With the lightning and thunderstorms postponing the beginning of the 2019 high school football season for teams in Beaufort County, student-athletes were given a unique opportunity back at their first day of school.

Students may dread going back to their classrooms and opening up their books for another semester, but the excitement that comes a new year still shines brightly.

On Monday, hallways around Beaufort County were littered with athletes rocking their football jerseys for the first game day of the season  due to Friday’s postponements.

There was just something about the energy in the school when the football team wore their jerseys. I remember it very vividly.

Getting to wear that jersey during school was a privilege. Not any other sport got to wear their game jerseys during school, except for football at my school. The basketball team usually wore suits to school on their game days. Baseball players wore their warm up gear and giant bags of equipment we lugged around all day until the locker room was open after lunch.

No matter the sport you play, be proud of it. You only get a measly four years of high school before moving on in life. The vast majority of high school student-athletes will never be able to play the sport they enjoy in a organized setting after they graduate.

So, my challenge to athletes starting school this week; no matter what sport you play, if you’re in the band, or cheering on the sidelines, give it everything you’ve got. Give every ounce of passion that you have for what you do, because sooner than you might like, you won’t be able to do it again.

For me, walking up to a stadium, arena or field with the bright lights shining, is nostalgic. The goosebumps run up my arms, the excitement courses through my veins like I’m the one that should be suiting up.

The competitive spirit is a beautiful thing; that’s why I do what I do. I love seeing people give everything they have for a result that they want. I love seeing people face adversity only for them to conquer it.

Even if you don’t play a sport, just go out to a game or two this year of a sport that interest you most, socialize and cheer for your school. School spirit is important, and it can completely change the vibe in the entire school when you have a gym or stadium full of fans cheering on the same team.

Sports are an opportunity to set aside any differences, because there is one common denominator; we all want to win. So get out, play your hearts out and/or cheer your hearts out, because you’ll miss it when it’s over.