The Letter

Where do I begin? How do I convey respect? How do I demonstrate appreciation? For three years you have been a part of something I don’t think either one of us thought you would be a part of. Maybe that is why you kept coming back. We aren’t your average athletic team. We aren’t driven by the ultimate athletic accomplishment. I think we are, among other things, driven by character accomplishment. I think that might be one of the reasons you kept coming back, because you have been blessed with tremendous character. You have been a beacon for “Lion Pride.” I enjoyed watching you enjoy yourself and your teammates. I think it is because you are the ultimate teammate. You quickly learned what our program was about and you represented that belief consistently. I gain no greater joy than watching someone like you watch, reach, struggle, and succeed. Because I know that other people are seeing the same thing. They see your enthusiasm. They see your determination. They see you hurt and they see you smile. A big, big smile with an equally big laugh. I will miss them both. In Washington D.C. this spring, Lyndee H (Class of ’97) made the comment. “They’re girls Fleen, you don’t understand, you’ll never understand.” While I acknowledge her keen insight (she is, after all, a girl) I am not sure she is entirely correct. I present you as exhibit A. You are like one of my favorite desserts, apple pie…a la mode of course. It may not look the same from top to bottom, but it is sweet all the way through. As I discovered one layer after another, I learned that all of them were wonderfully fresh. At times I believe that frustrated you, the fact that I knew you so well. Your strengths as well as your weaknesses. You loved to play “complicated,” but both of us knew you were relatively easy to know, love, and appreciate. You knew right from wrong, just like I did, but you would test me anyway secretly hoping the answer might be different while all the time knowing it wouldn’t. I have no doubt you will always remember your time here. I will always remember your time here as well. I also do not doubt that your true character will deliver you to a place neither one of us could dream of or imagine.