Kate Gustafson

A letter to my 13-year-old self

By InnerVoice

April 20^th, 2018

Taking us all back to ‘97-98, a few important things were happening in the world: Princess Diana and Mother Teresa died, Madeleine Albright became the first female Secretary of State in US history. And women’s hockey became an official sport at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.

And this event, seeing these women, sparked something deep down inside me. I saw these women be something I wanted to be.

They knocked down so many doors for both myself and thousands of girls across Canada.

Here is what I would write to that girl, to myself:

Though your world is small now, you’re going to step foot on, and explore, six of the seven continents by the time your age flips digits and you turn 31.

Hold onto that belief that all of your dreams will come true when you write down that your goal is to represent Canada on the National Women’s Hockey Team, that dream will propel you to play NCAA Division I hockey and earn a world-class education.

Read, read, read, and read as much as you can.

Pay less attention to boys, if you can, you won’t meet your match until you’re much older living in Toronto working for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Play as many sports as you can and tell your parents "thank you" more often for driving and flying (but mostly driving) you all over Minnesota, North Dakota, Ontario and Manitoba to help you chase your goals.

Pay attention to your mom on the way to hockey practice when you tell her that you’re “not sure it’s worth it” or that “it’s not fun anymore” and she pulls over on the side of the road to tell you that it is.

Your attitude matters and it’s contagious. Be positive.

You’re going to give everything you’ve got to hockey for as long as you can but don’t worry when it’s over. You’ll find many more opportunities to share your love for sport with girls in the future. You’ll rediscover running and it will be incredible. Don’t worry about predicting how it all plays out. You’ll find so much fulfilment from the months, building on years, building on decades of participation in sport.

It will not always be easy but it will be a ride worth sharing with others. And lastly, surround yourself with people who believe in your goals. Leave behind the ones who do not. You will always have more to give – to others, to the world, and to your pursuits.