The cheers from the stands The sideline goal celebrations Post season accolades Spring break trips Bus rides with the music going from Celine Dion... to Katy Perry… to Cardi B The last game of the season filled with tears, all kinds of emotions, sadness, happiness, appreciation, gratefulness. Seeing a member of your family playing their heart out for one last time. You provided them a safe home for the last four years where they have felt vulnerable to be their true self... you gave them a shoulder to cry on, you were their biggest cheerleader. They have become part of your family. You have grown with them, seen them at their highest and lowest, taught them much more than the X’s and O’s and have seen them become something much more than an attacker, midfielder, goalie or defender. They have become part of your family and are about to enter into the “real world,” forever grateful for the past four years. They will represent themselves for the rest of their lives with resilience, dedication, selflessness and the ability to overcome adversity each step of the way. You have been empowering them to be the person they have become. This is the why.