5/19/2010

Keep in mind that the audience that I was writing to didn’t know anything about rowing, but I think the message is still relevant and speaks from my heart so I want to share it with you tonight. Here it is…

“I am the seventh of eight girls. And while Mom works hard to keep us in line, we are close-knit and have an unwavering love and respect for each other’s character and strength. I’m not going to lie, it can be frustrating living with eight other women, but I wouldn’t have it any other way – for, when we’re together, we are an unbeatable force.

“For survival, each of us plays an important role to keeping our family afloat. This is not to suggest that the oldest is the “boss” or the youngest the “baby” but rather that we’ve naturally assumed specific jobs based on our stature, strength, and order. In doing so, we have fallen into pairs. Each sister-pair has a unique job and responsibility that helps sustain our family survival.

“One and Two keep us stable. Though they are the slightest in stature of the group, their dainty attitudes influence even the most cumbersome of us to be calm and relaxed. While I’m neither One nor Two, their balance and stability has rubbed off on me, just as on the others. I’ve improved my physical balance as well as reinforced my mental and psychological poise.

“Three and Four empower us. They are our rocks: I can go to them when I need help and backing. They keep us going when all we want to do is give up and somehow always find a way to motivate us so that we’ll respond. These sisters are the most flexible of us and, sometimes, I can see how their easy-going attitude has influenced me. They have taught me resilience – to just go with the flow and not worry about the future.

“Five and Six do pretty much the same thing as pair Three and Four. They are just as supportive as the rest, though I prefer to go to them first because they are closer and seem to understand me more. We are all equally reliable and would do anything for each other, but these two represent the devotion the most – to me at least. The trust and dependability that they offer is comforting and available when I need it most.

“Seven and Eight – that’s me and my twin, – we keep things interesting. Our pace affects the rest of the family and usually we like to go pretty fast. This keeps everyone else busy trying to keep up. Maintaining this power of influence, however, has required me to learn to recognize when it is time to slow down and relax. It is easy for things to get chaotic in a family of nine, but Eight and I know how to ease the tension and stifle the disturbance.

“My family of nine is different from most. While we are, as described, eight young and ambitious women held together by a caring and strong mother, it is not what you think. We do not live together under one roof, nor are we sisters by blood. Our “home” is a community boathouse and the “family” I refer to is my girls’ varsity crew team. You see, I sit seven seat in a boat of eight rowers and one coxswain.

“While we might not reside together outside of rowing, I live and experience just as much with my team as I do with my other – real – family. For two hours everyday, we voluntarily confine ourselves to life in a skinny racing shell, where we have to forget the troubles of the day and work in unison to combine our individual strengths and propel the heavy boat forward, stroke after stroke.

“Each athlete has a specific role in making the mechanical aspect of the boat work, but it’s so much more than just that. As grateful as I am to each for her physical talents and energy, I admire her more for her character and the life lessons that she has taught me.

“Through the help of my teammates, I’ve learned patience, perseverance, and empathy. With them, I’ve experienced pain and reward, triumph and defeat. In them, I’ve seen courage, pride, fortitude, and self-sacrifice for a common goal; and the list goes on and on… Rowing is more than just being physically strong. It also requires athletes to be mentally steadfast, self-determined, and internally focused. The greatest demand of our sport, though, is teamwork and mutual respect. My sisters have taught me this with the voice of their own actions.

“What is unique about my situation is that, even though we are all peers, and some are even younger than I, each and every one is a role model to me. I look at the individuals that I’ve seen them become and at the person that they have helped me become and I cannot help but respect them for all that they have done. The experiences and camaraderie that they have added to my life is invaluable.

“It is needless to say that, in spending as much time together as we do, we have become sisters and best friends. I’ve built my life around the laughs, memories, fun, and energy that we share together and just as much so on the pain and hardship that we have never had to face alone. I owe who I am to Molly, AJ, Courtaney, Polly, Lauren, Caden, Madi, Abby, Melissa, Hannah, and Anne; and I will never forget them or the impact that they have had in my life.”

To you novice girls who will be joining us next year: We’re excited to have you as part of the varsity sisterhood. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you at practice and regattas and I look forward to having you in the boat next year.

To the boys: Though you obviously aren’t part of the sisterhood, you’re still just as much a part of the family. I don’t know of any other co-ed sport that has as much respect and camaraderie between both teams as ours, but that is what makes Tulsa Rowing Juniors so special.

And to the seniors: Even though you’re leaving, you’ll always be a part of our family. We’re proud of you and wish you good luck.

I wish everyone the best on their finals, I hope you have a great summer, and I look forward to more fun in the fall! Thank you.