Collegiate athletics came to a halt in mid-March. With social distancing, remote work schedules and the inability to gather to cheer on our favorite teams, came a void. The void of seeing our favorite teams compete; the void of watching our favorite student-athletes grow and improve.
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Florida Atlantic athletics recognizes that void and has seized the opportunity by providing an opportunity for fans to get to know the FAU athletes and coaches in a series called "Owl Letters." It is just one of the #WinningInParadise series that FAUSports.com will bring to you, our loyal fans.
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Dear Golf,
We've had a relationship since I was eight. However, we didn't get close until I was 14 years old. It has been a complicated relationship with a lot of ups and downs, but we always manage to find our way back to each other. It takes a lot of work to keep the relationship healthy, and to keep it as I wish it to be. I believe this friendship is never going to reach perfection because of my constant wish to improve everything, even when it's good. Why settle for 'good enough?'
Golf, you've brought me so many things through our time together. Honestly, I don't remember life without you in it. I have you to thank for friendships that have lasted over 10 years, friendships turned into family. Speaking of family, I believe my close relationship with my beloved brother is caused by our common interest in golf, all our trips and practices. I will never be without the many memories I have created while growing up. You made me a structural, punctual and organized person, always seeking the best in myself but also in others. However, at some point, it was time to take our relationship to the next level. I had so many memories with you and my best friends in Denmark, but I realized it had to come to an end. I had to continue caring for this friendship somewhere else. It was hard to leave my friends out of our friendship and bring you to another country. However, you were the only thing that could remind me of home, something I knew and recognized.
For a long time, Golf, you were the only thing that caused me to keep practicing, the only thing I could do and keep comfortable doing. However, whenever we had issues or did not agree on how things should go or be handled, everything would seem very pointless. Because when I didn't get along with you, staying on the other side of the globe, thousands of miles away from my home, my friends, my family, it seemed like a waste of time I could have spent somewhere I was happy. Then fall 2019 came and everything changed. I'm not going to lie, I still longed for home, but you are not the only thing keeping me in the States anymore. I developed such close relationships with people so far away from home that it began feeling like a second family. I needed that. I met my best friend, my favorite American friend. It led me to a friendship I never want to be without again. Now, I still prioritize you and I take good care about our friendship. However, all friendships have ups and downs, and now I have other parts of my life I can hang on to wherever we don't get along. I am forever thankful for you making it possible for me to travel so far with you by my side, supporting me but also letting me to find friendships that cause me to develop me as a person. Having friendships in the States gave me peace in my mind, which I believe improved our relationship, because I distanced myself from hanging on to you too tight that I would be too affected by our disagreements, which helped me in my general mood and my ability to move on. This situation right now is resulting in me missing you, but also missing my friends in other countries in ways I've never experienced before. Thank you for constantly bringing me challenges, memories, happiness and the want for being better every day.
Yours,
Rosa.
Previous Letters
Jolie Duffner -
April 8, 2020
Alex Smolka -
April 10, 2020
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