Mr. O’Sullivan-

I know this is way overdue, but I wanted to thank you for the presentation you made at the University of --------- this fall.  My name is, --------- --------- and I am a Sophomore on the track team- a heptathlete on top of that.  Since your presentation, talk around the locker room has switched from “Are you ready to get wasted this weekend?” to “If I drink at all this weekend… I don’t want to drink very much…”  There are many girls alongside myself who have maybe only had 1 or 2 drinks since we saw you, if any at all. 

 

I don’t know about other teams, but the impact you made on the girl’s track team is phenomenal.  I think that what a lot of girls needed to hear was that it is 100% O.K. not to go out and drink as much as your friends and to put your sport first – especially at a school like University of ---------, where the amount of alcohol consumed is a source of pride.   For me personally, as a member of the track team and a sorority, your words came at a great time because I was starting to get a lot of pressure from my sisters to “get my priorities straight” and to “realize that this is the only time I’ll have to party, don’t waste it on track.”

 

I don’t know if you really remember saying it, but the quote that stuck with me the most was as follows: “5 or 6 years from now, for some of you its 8 or 9 – you’re not going to look back and wish you got hammered just one more time.  You will look back and wonder why you never won a national championship.”  I have that typed up and taped on my mirror so that I see it every day at least once. 

 

Basically, I just wanted to thank you for your presentation and let you know that your words did not just go in one ear and out the other.   You’ve made a difference in the lives and track careers of at least 7 young women – and when I get up on that NCAA podium, you bet I’ll have your motivating words to thank.

 

Wishing you the best,

 

Big Ten Track Athlete