110 Flights

9/11 is a tragedy engraved in our entire nation, if not the entire world's minds. It was a moment most people never thought was possible. The United States was a powerhouse. Nobody could stop or hurt us, until that day.

I was born in 2003, so I was not alive for the heartbreak our country endured on that day. I remember growing up listening to adults talk about where they were when the World Trade Center collapsed. Teachers were sitting in their classrooms, holding their crying students. My parents were at work, frantically trying to contact each other. The entire world was frozen in time. I know I won't have the understanding my parents have of this tragedy, but I want to do everything I can to honor those who risked their lives on that day. 

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Each year, the women's basketball team comes together to run the 110 flights of stairs in honor of the first responders who ran into the towers. Those first responders were selfless. They rushed to the towers and ran in to save people, even when they didn't know if they would make it home safe to their families. When I think of 9/11, I think of how many people sacrificed themselves for our nation. Whether it was the first responders who ran into the towers or the soldiers who fought across the world, people wanted to come together for a greater cause. My parents talked about the sense of patriotism the country experienced after 9/11. No one cared about if they were of a certain race, ethnicity or religion. They wanted to fight for the red, white and blue.

When we run the stairs, we talk to each other about the importance of playing with a greater purpose. If you are playing for yourself, you are playing for all the wrong reasons. You have to be willing to pour everything you have into the people around you. When you are fighting for something bigger than yourself, anything is possible. I know my team enjoys honoring those first responders by running the 110 flights. Most of us weren't alive when tragedy struck, but we feel it is the least we can do to say thank you to them.

I highly encourage other sports teams to run the 110 flights in honor of the first responders. Life is more than just a game. It is a harsh reality. It takes a special kind of person to risk everything for a stranger. When you run the stairs, don't think about how much your legs are burning or how you are gasping for air. Instead, think about those first responders, covered in heavy gear, running through smoke trying to save the next life. Go home tonight and think about how lucky you are to see your family. Our entire lives can change in an instant. It's important to be grateful for what we have at this moment.