Just a Girl From St. Catharines: A Letter to My Past Self

via Dhristi Gill/Brock Badgers

Dear 2021 Madalyn,

Five years gone in the blink of an eye.

60 months.

1,635 days.

A quarter of your life.

The highest of highs and the lowest of lows. No two days the same. Endless hours in the gym. Tears you will not talk about. A constant hunger to win. Frustrations that boil over. Trips around the country. Forever friendships. A lifetime of memories. You think five years is a long time. It’s not…

Never did you think you would be the National Player of the Year, a three-time OUA Player of the Year, hold multiple Brock records, see your last name on a Canada Basketball jersey, or have the chance to inspire the young girls in your community.

What a privilege it has been.

You are just a girl from St. Catharines who will never stop believing in herself, who always showed up even when it was hard, and who found that the greatest part will be the community you build.

Your five years at Brock will teach you invaluable lessons, ones that you will carry with you for the rest of your life and that will shape the way you move forward.

First, invest fully.

Your time at Brock will be filled with so much more than just basketball. You will learn that what you put in always comes back bigger.

No matter what it is, take the time to get to know the people around you, care about your community, and be vulnerable.

We all have so much more in common than one might think.

Secondly, time is finite.

Even though we do not want to believe it, you only get so much time to do what you love, so you better give it everything you have.

For varsity athletes, that time is five years. Five years to become the best version of yourself, to grow, to learn, and to give it everything you’ve got. Enjoy every moment and do not take it for granted, because it will be gone before you know it.

Next, work hard.

It may be harder, require more effort, more time, and more discipline, but it will also be worth it.

Trying hard is not lame. And the people who hate on it? They are not working like you are. In whatever you do, give it your all so that you never look back and wish you could have done it differently. Give yourself the greatest chance to succeed and go freaking get it.

Additionally, be confident.

You are the only one who will fully believe in yourself, so you must be confident in your training.

One coach will say, “You will never be National Player of the Year until you believe you are the best player in the country.”

The truth here is that you must be your biggest cheerleader, and to do this, you must put the work in to build this confidence in yourself. You are not just playing the game — you are becoming strong, relentless, you are becoming HER, and she is pretty amazing.

Finally, joy + gratitude.

The lens through which you view life directly impacts the experiences you will have.

Over the years, you will learn that practicing joy and gratitude keeps you grounded and makes you happier, even on the tough days. It is a blessing to have something in your life that hurts so bad to give up, and it is important to always remember that.

Be present, celebrate the wins, fight through the losses, and keep your head up.

U SPORTS basketball, thank you. You have brought me so much joy, so many memories, friends, and have taught me so much. The feelings of gratitude for the past five years are immense, but all good things must end. This chapter ending hurts. But that just means it mattered.

As I go, remember: God’s plan is so much greater than anything you could have imagined. Keep trusting Him, and He will continue to light your path.

- Brock Badgers #12 Madalyn Weinert, out!