Dear Younger Self: Hannah Cardenas

NOTE: Ahead of graduation, we asked three seniors to reflect on their time at the University of Colorado.  The second Buff featured is Hannah Cardenas from soccer.  From Placentia, Calif., Cardenas reflects on her journey to CU, in her own words, having high expectations after an impressive freshman season, to battling through continuous injuries, only to keeping fightback harder and harder. Hannah’s letter is below, and be sure to watch the video, as well. 

Dear 12-year-old Hannah,

 

First, I want you to know all the worries you will have from how to kick a long ball (correctly) to where we will go to college will all be answered. The worries we will have and the fears we will face are nothing in comparison to the joy of the journey you will take because wow is it something you will cherish for the rest of your life.

 

Your future is nothing short of trials and tribulations but we could never do anything without having to work hard. I know you hate to hear this, but like Mom said “Nothing worth it in life is achieved without hard work,” and you will be nothing short of tenacious. You just started playing real club soccer and the way you will look like a deer in headlights on the field because of the way Coach Brent yells will definitely give you tough skin but he shows you how to be a real soccer player. He is actually really cool and kinda funny but he becomes one of the reasons you are the player you are when you get to college. Plus, you get to stay in touch with him all throughout your career.

 

As the years go by and the games go on, you join the Slammers club and learn how to be truly confident in your play which is something we never had growing up. Z and Walid put you on the map and made you feel like you were family and you feel so lucky to be a part of something so magical. The God-given talent you have becomes something tangible and you finally feel special like this is something you are meant to do. You begin to feel like you have a purpose and feel like you have made your mark on being an athlete just like your brothers. You learn to deeply love the sport and sacrifices made are all done because of the love you have in your heart for the game, never lose that.

 

In talking about sacrifices, Mom, Dad, Matt and Ryan sacrifice so much for you by taking you to practices, extra…