Golf

Of everything in my golf bag, I never thought a little golf tee would teach me so much.

When I first tried golf, I was excited just to get the ball off the tee. No one in my family played, and as one of the few girls in a male-dominated sport, I questioned whether I belonged.

At first, I thought improvement meant working harder and hitting farther. After many misses, I realized something: a tee gives every swing a consistent starting point. It removes one variable, but it doesn't fix my swing. That's still up to me.

I started to approach practice the same way. Instead of getting frustrated, I asked questions, fixed one thing at a time, and didn't let a bad shot ruin the next one.

I got a varsity spot and eventually became team captain. What made me proudest was seeing more girls join the team.

I remembered how nervous I'd been, so I answered their questions and reminded them that everyone hits bad shots. I wanted them to feel welcome before they had to prove anything.

A tee is a tiny launchpad, really. As captain, I learned that leadership works the same way. I can't take someone else's swing, but I can give them the confidence to take their own.

After all, every great shot starts on the tee. What happens next is up to you.