An independent, college preparatory, co-ed, Episcopal Day School serves a community of students in grades 6-12.
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W R I T T E N B Y B R I T T NE Y M I L L S ' 2 2 Ever since 6 th grade, I wanted to play football. However, my middle school only had a boys' team and my parents were afraid I would get hurt playing football with only guys. They always encourage me in whatever I do, but here, they were looking out for my safety. I had begged my parents for years to let me play on a team. This changed during quarantine. On one particular day, while my dad and I were in the backyard working out, I asked him, "If I can hold a plank for five minutes, will you let me play football?" He agreed. Lo and behold, I held the plank for five minutes, and the journey began. Fast forward a few months to spring season of my junior year, when I became the first female on the Palmer Trinity football team. Being the only girl on the football team has been the best experience of my life. It honestly couldn't have gone better. At first, I was a little nervous that the guys would resent me for interjecting into their boy space, but my nerves went away immediately after I joined the team. I have never fallen so in love with a group of people so quickly. They hyped me up whenever I did anything right, and they always encouraged me. One thing I'll never forget was our preseason game. I had missed my field goal, and not a single person showed any anger or frustration toward me. When I got to the sideline, I was received with encouragement: they all told me not to worry about it or to keep my head up; some patted me on the head or gave me a hug. They seemed to care more about how the missed kick affected me rather than how it influenced the score of the game. That loving attitude continued throughout the entire season. I never once felt left out, neglected or belittled. My coaches also supported me and encouraged me tremendously. They gave me chances when I failed and they congratulated me profusely when I succeeded. And it wasn't just the boys who made this experience so memorable. Whether it was one of my teammates' moms walking me to the bathroom so I wouldn't go alone if my parents couldn't make it; the cheerleaders making special cheers with my name in them; or even the girls on the opponents' teams who wished me luck and would tell me how cool they thought it was that I played football—it took an entire community to make this experience unforgettable. Being on this team made me so strong both physically and emotionally. The only downside is that, as a senior, it is now over. I am beyond grateful to my parents, the school, and football family for supporting me throughout this journey. My biggest "I love you" goes to my team. I couldn't have asked for a better community to support me when I decided to join Palmer Trinity's boys football team. To my 10 amazing coaches and my 23 amazing brothers: I love you. Thank you for everything. Scan Here to Learn More F O O T B A L L P L A Y E R B E C O M I N G P A L M E R T R I N I T Y ' S F I R S T F E M A L E 26 PALMERTRINITY.ORG P E R S P E C T I V E S