Family. This is the one word that often goes hand-in-hand with shared history, genetics, and home,and yet, as an international student in my first overwhelming year at college, it was a concept that came to mean so many different things to me, none of which involved my biology. My family is on a muddy, rain-soaked rugby field; a wild melee of thumping bodies and labored breaths. My family is one of total faith in every person on the field, acceptance without reservation, and the willingness to quite literally pick another person up from off the ground. It is a sanctuary that banishes loneliness from the moment you lace up your boots. Starting as a freshman can be an isolating experience. Everything you thought you knew about yourself gets redefined and you can feel completely stranded from all that is familiar, especially when thousands of miles from your home. It was in this time of absolute vulnerability that joining the college rugby team became my turning point. Rugby forces everything of you on and off the field; no one cares who you are, where you come from, or the vocabulary you utilize on the pitch; all that truly matters is that you can stand by the person next to you. When you're rucking, tackling and sprinting through sheer physical exhaustion in unison, something in a way truly clicks, and your teammates become your foundation-those same individuals who cheered on my first successful tackles and have helped me to keep my head on my shoulders while the freshman year crisis continues to ensue. What's more, in terms of selection, as it is mentioned that women's rugby has a deep element of ambition and drive. Because women's rugby is a developing sport, we continually feel as though we have something to prove every time we step on the field. We are consistently breaking down barriers and redefining strength. With this shared goal, a sisterhood is established,we aren't just a sports team,we're a force pushing towards positive progress and are all determined to be the best that we can be. The determination I've learned on the field – to push myself back to my feet the moment after I'm pummeled to the grass – has transferred to my academics and life in so many meaningful ways. My hopes and dreams for playing rugby throughout my college career extend further than a winning season. I aspire to use this experience as an opportunity to foster leadership skills, serve as a mentor to other incoming freshman players who might feel just as lonely and lost as I did, and promote the development of women's sports. Rugby has given me a voice, belonging and a fierce, protective family that would never leave a sister behind; rugby is the definition of always having someone there to help you back to your feet after your next tackle.