Lehigh University Athletics
From the Future: Dear First-Year Kayla...
4/26/2017 5:00:00 PM | Student Athlete
Dear First-Year Kayla,
This isn't to freak you out, but I think it's only fair to let you know that you're going to realize ten minutes into your first college class that you are sitting front row (good first step by the way) in a senior seminar when you're supposed to be in Statistics 101.
Don't panic, it's OK. Believe it or not you're going to laugh at this day, maybe not necessarily today, but in years to come.
In fact, there will be a lot of things you will laugh and smile about, and there will be a lot of things you will cry and sob about (because me and you both know, when it rains it pours). Before I dive into depth of what your next four years will be like here, let me inform you that I'm not here to give you the answers to this next chapter because I don't even have them. But the most important thing I want to stress is to listen to what Dad has always told you, "the answers are in the Book."
Freshman year:
Let's talk ball. This is your peak year so embrace each and every single second you are given on that court. Kay, you're going to continue to wake up and shoot in the mornings before your 7:45am class. One, being the reason that you are dedicated to do so. Two, being the fact that Dad will call you at 5:30am waking both you and Christine, who will become your best friend by the way, to see if you're up. Sorry, I can't help you on that one. But it'll be worth it because you're going to play a huge role this year on the court. Hilary, your senior point guard, is injured, which means you'll be starting and have some big shoes to fill. Your very first game against Niagara, you'll see the starting five on the whiteboard with Kayla written next to number 1. You'll take your seat in the front row, where the starters sit. You'll score 13 points and feel on top of the world, as you should! You guys will go on a 7-0 run and everything will go absolutely great. Throughout the middle of the season, Hilary will make her way back from her injury and be able to play again, but you're still going to start and continue to play the 38 minutes you've been playing. The coaches, the team and the fans are looking to you and you're going to feel incredibly important, a star if you will. And although this feeling is amazing, here's what I have to say...
Go check in on Hilary.
Ask how she's doing and mean it. Acknowledge her and make sure she is OK. Because she is the true star, playing the hardest, most unselfish role which you, yourself will soon see.
Now, let's talk life off the court. You're a social butterfly and now that you have all of the freedom in the world, you're going to want to dance on every set. You want your teammates to love you and you want the cute guys to hit you up. You want approval by a lot of people and you're going to say "yes" to everyone because you want to make everyone happy. That is a great trait about you Kay. You truly love making others laugh and smile. But at what cost? Unfortunately Kayla, you will discover the hard way that you cannot and will not receive everyone's approval. All of the makeup you put on in the morning, you don't need it. I know you won't listen right now because you're hard-headed sometimes, no offense, but you will soon discover the "masterpiece" that God was talking about all along. (Ephesians 2:10)
Oh, and remember, "The answers are in the Book."
Sophomore year:
Alright girlfriend, you are ready to come back and kill it this year! You have worked on your game resiliently and have had a strong preseason, competing your behind off, showing the coaches that you will lead the team to a Patriot League Championship this year. Now, it's "go time." First game of your second season, you'll be an hour and a half early warming up, before actual warm ups. Your teammates will be out on the court, warm ups will have started and then it will be time to go into the team room and listen to Coach's game plan. Pumped up, ready to go, you'll make your way into the team room. You'll look at the white board… and your name won't be on it.
It's replaced.
You're replaced.
Well that's how you'll feel. You're going to look at Coach with so much anger and confusion. You're going to sit on the bench, shaking your head the entire game and not care about anything or anyone but yourself. It's going to be hard, this day and many more after. For the rest of the season you're going to feel in denial of it all and stay in the gym even later, proving to the coaches that they are making a mistake. You will be the first one on the court and the last one off and be sure of it. That's what's up though, Kay. That's the fight in you. You'll do most of this out of anger, denial and confusion, while letting it affect your mood and attitude throughout the season. But I'm here to tell you that this is where God is going to take you and make you the warrior that you're going to become. Just wait.
Oh, and remember, "The answers are in the Book."
Junior year:
Halfway there! Crazy, right? This year you, Kari, Kiernan and Lexi get to move into a house! You're going to have to pay rent, utilities, and the electric bill… all things you have absolutely no idea about. For the first few months, you will be eating cereal and Ramen for dinner. Don't stress though. Lexi, Kier and Kari will teach you how to at least cook a steak. The best part about living together in this house is that your relationships will only prosper. These three girls right here… they got your back. Each one of you will face personal challenges this year and you're especially going to need each other. Kay, you must pinky promise not to say anything, but Lexi will transfer to a different school, Kiernan is going to be out due to an ACL injury, and this will be Kari's final season playing due to an injury as well.
That leaves YOU.
You will feel extremely lonely. Not much will change in basketball either. Even though you know better, you're going to continue to base your identity on the number of minutes you play and let me tell you, they aren't many. You will struggle, trying to figure out what you need to do to, not even to start, but to at least play a minute longer. You will go into Coach's office and ask her what it is you need to do to basically get your identity back and be the basketball player you were destined to be.
Stop. You're not looking in the right direction.
Senior year:
Remember what I stressed earlier in this letter, the thing that Dad told you, "the answers are in the Book"? Go to the Book. Get your Bible and turn to Isaiah 41:10. Read this: "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
You, Kayla Elizabeth Burton, are a child of God and THAT is your identity.
And that's a pretty friggin sweet identity if you ask me. Best part about this? This year, you'll know it and you'll believe it. Some games you'll play one minute, other games you'll play ten. And I'd be lying if I were to tell you that you'll be content or happy throughout these games. But now, your purpose is different. You will finally learn what it means to glorify God whether it be sprinting a couple of minutes after loose balls on the court, or screaming, cracking up as you and "BENCH SQUAD" think of different dance moves to do after your teammate nails a three. You will genuinely find this new happiness both on and off the court. You will walk the Lehigh grounds without a splat of makeup on your face (but hey… don't fool yourself, that makeup is still needed from time to time) and you will create the strongest, most beautiful relationships with more people than you can ever imagine. And THAT Kayla, is worth way more than any minute ever played on the court. I'm proud of you Kayla. We did it.
Sincerely,
Senior Kayla, Child of God
Ps. Thank Mom and Dad because they really are the pure definition of your "Ride or Dies."
This isn't to freak you out, but I think it's only fair to let you know that you're going to realize ten minutes into your first college class that you are sitting front row (good first step by the way) in a senior seminar when you're supposed to be in Statistics 101.
Don't panic, it's OK. Believe it or not you're going to laugh at this day, maybe not necessarily today, but in years to come.
In fact, there will be a lot of things you will laugh and smile about, and there will be a lot of things you will cry and sob about (because me and you both know, when it rains it pours). Before I dive into depth of what your next four years will be like here, let me inform you that I'm not here to give you the answers to this next chapter because I don't even have them. But the most important thing I want to stress is to listen to what Dad has always told you, "the answers are in the Book."
Freshman year:
Let's talk ball. This is your peak year so embrace each and every single second you are given on that court. Kay, you're going to continue to wake up and shoot in the mornings before your 7:45am class. One, being the reason that you are dedicated to do so. Two, being the fact that Dad will call you at 5:30am waking both you and Christine, who will become your best friend by the way, to see if you're up. Sorry, I can't help you on that one. But it'll be worth it because you're going to play a huge role this year on the court. Hilary, your senior point guard, is injured, which means you'll be starting and have some big shoes to fill. Your very first game against Niagara, you'll see the starting five on the whiteboard with Kayla written next to number 1. You'll take your seat in the front row, where the starters sit. You'll score 13 points and feel on top of the world, as you should! You guys will go on a 7-0 run and everything will go absolutely great. Throughout the middle of the season, Hilary will make her way back from her injury and be able to play again, but you're still going to start and continue to play the 38 minutes you've been playing. The coaches, the team and the fans are looking to you and you're going to feel incredibly important, a star if you will. And although this feeling is amazing, here's what I have to say...
Go check in on Hilary.
Ask how she's doing and mean it. Acknowledge her and make sure she is OK. Because she is the true star, playing the hardest, most unselfish role which you, yourself will soon see.
Now, let's talk life off the court. You're a social butterfly and now that you have all of the freedom in the world, you're going to want to dance on every set. You want your teammates to love you and you want the cute guys to hit you up. You want approval by a lot of people and you're going to say "yes" to everyone because you want to make everyone happy. That is a great trait about you Kay. You truly love making others laugh and smile. But at what cost? Unfortunately Kayla, you will discover the hard way that you cannot and will not receive everyone's approval. All of the makeup you put on in the morning, you don't need it. I know you won't listen right now because you're hard-headed sometimes, no offense, but you will soon discover the "masterpiece" that God was talking about all along. (Ephesians 2:10)
Oh, and remember, "The answers are in the Book."
Sophomore year:
Alright girlfriend, you are ready to come back and kill it this year! You have worked on your game resiliently and have had a strong preseason, competing your behind off, showing the coaches that you will lead the team to a Patriot League Championship this year. Now, it's "go time." First game of your second season, you'll be an hour and a half early warming up, before actual warm ups. Your teammates will be out on the court, warm ups will have started and then it will be time to go into the team room and listen to Coach's game plan. Pumped up, ready to go, you'll make your way into the team room. You'll look at the white board… and your name won't be on it.
It's replaced.
You're replaced.
Well that's how you'll feel. You're going to look at Coach with so much anger and confusion. You're going to sit on the bench, shaking your head the entire game and not care about anything or anyone but yourself. It's going to be hard, this day and many more after. For the rest of the season you're going to feel in denial of it all and stay in the gym even later, proving to the coaches that they are making a mistake. You will be the first one on the court and the last one off and be sure of it. That's what's up though, Kay. That's the fight in you. You'll do most of this out of anger, denial and confusion, while letting it affect your mood and attitude throughout the season. But I'm here to tell you that this is where God is going to take you and make you the warrior that you're going to become. Just wait.
Oh, and remember, "The answers are in the Book."
Junior year:
Halfway there! Crazy, right? This year you, Kari, Kiernan and Lexi get to move into a house! You're going to have to pay rent, utilities, and the electric bill… all things you have absolutely no idea about. For the first few months, you will be eating cereal and Ramen for dinner. Don't stress though. Lexi, Kier and Kari will teach you how to at least cook a steak. The best part about living together in this house is that your relationships will only prosper. These three girls right here… they got your back. Each one of you will face personal challenges this year and you're especially going to need each other. Kay, you must pinky promise not to say anything, but Lexi will transfer to a different school, Kiernan is going to be out due to an ACL injury, and this will be Kari's final season playing due to an injury as well.
That leaves YOU.
You will feel extremely lonely. Not much will change in basketball either. Even though you know better, you're going to continue to base your identity on the number of minutes you play and let me tell you, they aren't many. You will struggle, trying to figure out what you need to do to, not even to start, but to at least play a minute longer. You will go into Coach's office and ask her what it is you need to do to basically get your identity back and be the basketball player you were destined to be.
Stop. You're not looking in the right direction.
Senior year:
Remember what I stressed earlier in this letter, the thing that Dad told you, "the answers are in the Book"? Go to the Book. Get your Bible and turn to Isaiah 41:10. Read this: "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
You, Kayla Elizabeth Burton, are a child of God and THAT is your identity.
And that's a pretty friggin sweet identity if you ask me. Best part about this? This year, you'll know it and you'll believe it. Some games you'll play one minute, other games you'll play ten. And I'd be lying if I were to tell you that you'll be content or happy throughout these games. But now, your purpose is different. You will finally learn what it means to glorify God whether it be sprinting a couple of minutes after loose balls on the court, or screaming, cracking up as you and "BENCH SQUAD" think of different dance moves to do after your teammate nails a three. You will genuinely find this new happiness both on and off the court. You will walk the Lehigh grounds without a splat of makeup on your face (but hey… don't fool yourself, that makeup is still needed from time to time) and you will create the strongest, most beautiful relationships with more people than you can ever imagine. And THAT Kayla, is worth way more than any minute ever played on the court. I'm proud of you Kayla. We did it.
Sincerely,
Senior Kayla, Child of God
Ps. Thank Mom and Dad because they really are the pure definition of your "Ride or Dies."
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