By Emily Dorko, Adelphi Softball/Volleyball

There are going to be days when the game you love doesn't love you back. Those days are going to be filled with frustration and anger but will also have opportunities to grow -- as a person, as a teammate and as an athlete. Even though those days will occur, you're also going to have days where your relationship with your sport, in my case softball, is great.

After playing this game for 16 years, I've blinked and it's over. Just like that. You never realize, until it is over, how much you are going to miss it. That moment hasn't necessarily hit me yet, but when I don't have to report back early in August for preseason, that's when I'll know. 

I'll come to realize all the time and energy that my coaches, parents, teammates and I have put in over my career doesn't have a purpose anymore. Don't get me wrong, I am who I am because of all the amazing people I've met and the countless hours I've put in at the gym, but my competitive side will be forced to come out in my attempt to get a job instead of winning a championship. 

To all the student0athletes out there I'd like to share some wise words that were once told to my team and I, on a late summer afternoon after losing a few games at a tournament:

"It's not alright."

Time and time again we hear the phrase, "It's alright," and as an athlete you should know that it's not. Being told by my coaches at the age of 12 that "IT'S NOT ALRIGHT" hit me hard and stayed with me throughout these past 16 years. Because when you think about coming off the field after a loss and being told that "it's ok, its alright, you'll get 'em next time," its really not either.

Being an athlete, your mindset needs to be "I'm giving 110% every time I go to practice or workout or compete." I was the type of competitor that would pick apart everything I did after a loss because I knew it was not alright.

So here I will start my thank you's, with this big one going out to my 12 and under coaches (who eventually would be my 14&U, 16&U, high school and 18&U coaches) Mr. Matz, Mr. Rollman and Mr. Lindner. I don't know how many girls that speech stuck with, but I'm glad you motivated the way you did. Thank you for your dedication to teaching us the rules of the gam. We could not have accomplished half of what we did without you.

To say I was lucky or blessed is an understatement. I got to play with my best friends from the age of 12 to 18. Then I had the opportunity to compete in both volleyball and softball in college. Because of that, I automatically had two amazing groups of friends upon arriving at Adelphi.  And now that my career has come to a close, the amount my support system has grown is unbelievable. So with that said, my next thank you goes to ALL my teammates. Thanks for dealing with me on my best and worst days. The days the game didn't love me were the days you all had my back and I honestly would not have been able to get through it without your help. 

Cliche to say the least, my most obvious and greatest thank you needs to be extended to my parents and family. I cannot thank you enough for the countless hours you worked and miles you drove to make my dreams come true. It seems like just yesterday when we were running from the softball little league field to the baseball field concession stand to get fries after our game, or just yesterday when I opened the white box under the Christmas tree that held my black and pink stitched glove, or just yesterday when our vacations revolved around softball tournaments. Thank you for driving me up and down the east coast, or tossing me wiffle balls in the backyard. Thank you mom and dad for pushing me to become all that I could be. You deserve recognition for my All-American honor because without you, I wouldn't be here. Thank you for always believing in me. 

And here it is, the end to my final blog, to my final year as a Panther, to my career in the Northeast-10 Conference. As a student-athlete, remember you don't just attend school to play sports (as inviting as that may sound). Delve yourself into your sport but don't be afraid to branch out and join new clubs, different organizations or give back to your community. Don't be afraid to dream big about what you want to be or do when you grow up- anything is possible. Don't forget to thank your coaches for all the time and energy they put into making you better. And most importantly, don't forget to thank your parents, because they are your biggest fans. 

Good luck to all student-athletes who may come across this blog, and truly live in every moment. Because after four years, it's over. 

Dorko (second from left) was on hand on Cape Cod for the NE-10
yearend banquet, where Adelphi won the prestigious Presidents' Cup. 

Dorko with her Panther softball teammates, as the team advanced to
this year's Super Regional in Dorko's final season.