Dear Washington: Shae Holmes
6/6/2022
Dear Washington…
A letter to UW from Washington Women's Soccer's Shae Holmes.
Dear UW,
College has been an absolute rollercoaster, but I truly wouldn’t have wanted this amazing journey to go any other way. I came to UW because of the incredible education, competitive Pac-12 conference, and unconditional love of the community that surrounds our campus and bleeds purple and gold. A question my parents asked me before committing to a college was “if you didn’t have soccer would you still love the school for what it is”? I can confidently say that is exactly what UW gave me. It gave me the feeling of home and someplace where soccer wasn’t my only identity. Yes, UW soccer developed me into a better and more versatile player, but UW also developed me into an overall well-rounded person.
I wouldn’t change a single thing about my journey or story though because it made me, me.
College soccer didn’t exactly go the way I planned. I told myself I wanted to be a difference maker. I thought that meant on the field. I couldn’t have been more wrong in all the right ways. I came in as a freshman rehabbing my first right ACL and for all my college career, I ended up enduring 3 total ACL injuries. Being cleared to play this game again just only two months ago, after missing my true senior season, fills my heart with more joy than anything. I wouldn’t change a single thing about my journey or story though because it made me, me. I thought I was supposed be at UW and on this team to make a difference the way I knew I could. I still did. It may not have been on the field since I have only played about 20 games or less in 4 years, but I did make the difference I wanted to. I am graduating with a BA undergrad in environmental studies and a minor in global health. I will be back for my 5th year this fall (2023), being a three-year captain coming up, about to pursue a Master’s in sustainable transportation and I couldn’t be more blessed to be a dawg.
Thank you for preparing me for life.
I’m so proud of everything I have accomplished, from winning a core values award, being a part of SAUWS, being on the Dean’s list multiple quarters, winning college player of distinction award, and growing my passions in the classroom and real world in sustainability and public health. So, I want to say thank you to all my coaches and support staff. Thank you to all my TAs and professors. Thank you for giving me friends and teammates that will last a life-time. Thank you for giving me an education that is going to help me in achieving my occupational goals. Thank you for all the ups and downs a college student athlete could’ve ever experienced. Thank you for forming me into the soccer player and person I truly am today. Thank you for preparing me for life. Thank you, UW. Thank you for teaching me what it truly means to bleed purple and gold. Go Dawgs forever and always!
Shae Holmes
#11 Women’s Soccer