My quidditch team went to our final tournament of the season on Saturday, and the only way I can describe that day is surreal. Having put in a ton of training over the last month, we obviously wanted to do well, but I don't think we really expected to do this well. We won our first three games, some more easily than others, but what really stood out was how cohesive we have become as a team.
In September, a lot of us met for the very first time, and we have been gaining players all year, right up until two weeks before the tournament. But regardless of how long we've been playing, something has knit us together, and created this crazy bond. Of course our skills have improved too, and that was a huge part of our success. But without the determination and drive that comes from loving your team and loving the sport, the drills and workouts would not have gotten us this far.
Quidditch was my first team sport, and I now can honestly say that playing as a team is completely different from playing as yourself. Being on a team means that you put the whole ahead of your individual part. You do your best, but not for you - you do it for everyone. Every once in a while you feel as though you are letting them down, but more often you are building them up, making some small contribution to something so much bigger. And it works both ways - they build you up too.
In the finals on Saturday, although we played our very hardest, and we played together, it just wasn't enough. But I have never seen a team in better spirits after a loss. I think we all realized that we had finally hit our stride that day, and the disappointment was overshadowed by an excitement for what is to come. We will all be back next year, even more determined, and there is so much more for us to do.
So although a lot is ending soon, and I am going to miss some things about first year, this end in particular is more of a beginning.
Goodnight, bloglings
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