I've never been the overly skinny, super-fast, or model-level pretty girl that seems to be a requirement for women's sport. My entire life, no matter how good I was at the sport, I was pushed to the side, isolated, and ridiculed. If you asked the people in my life if that bothered me, they'd say no, that I have always been unbothered about others, and that no words could hurt me. But, if I'm being completely honest, it did bother me. I didn't show it, I didn't want to give them that power, but it always hurt being excluded for not looking the way everyone wanted me to look. I spent so long wishing that I would find a sport that would like me for my personality, and not for what I look like. It took me a long time, till my sophomore year of high school, but I finally found that in rugby. For the first time, I felt valued for my skill and personality. My teammates encouraged me, pushed me to be better, and invited me out. For the first time in my life, I felt welcomed in the world that I loved so dearly but was always rejected from. Now, for me, my weight has never been a sore subject. And while the isolation hurt, I ate healthy, I was fit under the extra padding, and I was okay with that. However, many girls, especially teen girls, don't have that same understanding with their bodies. I can't express the number of times a girl has expressed their hatred for their body. I've heard it from skinny girls, tall girls, short girls, big girls, pretty much any girl I've ever talked to has an issue with their body; one that a lot of times stems from comments other people make. Rugby is the only sport I've been in that actively encourages and supports girls, no matter how they look. Skinny girls are told they're fast, maneuverable, and hard to catch. Big girls are told they are strong, hard to tackle, and scary to play against. The words and descriptions the rugby family uses specifically raises girls up and supports them; it's the only sports family I've ever enjoyed being a part of, because it's the only genuine one I’ve experienced. I will forever take that friendship and compassion with me. I hope to continue playing rugby in college; however, it won't be for an actual college team. Unfortunately for me, my major is a more specific one, and many of the high-level rugby teams don't offer it. But that doesn't mean I plan to give up on being part of the family. My hope is to join a club or an intramural team and continue to play. If not, I hope to be able to become a sir and continue to be a part of the culture I love so dearly. I plan to show up to as many games as I can for my high school teammates. I want to cheer for them on the sidelines and lift them up as high as I can. Rugby is a sport I hope will persevere throughout the rest of my life, and I hope I can always be a part of it.