Dear Washington: Sebastian Ritter
6/8/2022
Dear Washington…
A letter to UW from Washington Men's Rowing's Sebastian Ritter.
Dear Washington,
It’s hard to describe what it is like to make the decision to move abroad and commit to 4 years in the US. Part of you thinks about the friends and family that you leave behind and you know that some of those relationships are not going to last because of that. But the unknown future also has something liberating to it. Washington was astonishing to me at first. I have never seen so many dedicated people in one room together. The environment is so contagious with positive energy, that it felt like the easiest thing in the world to buy in. And over time, the early mornings, the Seattle rain, and the seemingly endless winter grind become manageable, if not enjoyable. Even on my worst days, there was always someone to tap me on the shoulder, make me laugh, and showed me that it was not at all that bad. Those were the people I looked up to when I was an underclassman and strived to be like when I became an upperclassman.
Even on my worst days, there was always someone to tap me on the shoulder, make me laugh, and showed me that it was not at all that bad.
I made some of the best memories of my life here at Washington. Winning a national championship, living with my best friends, camping in the snow on the top of a mountain. The list of amazing teammates, adventures, and stories is endless and will keep me remembering this exceptional time for the rest of my life.
Washington would not be the same place without the amazing dedication and commitment of its staff. All the coaches who never stopped believing in my potential, Matt Bannerman, and our athletic trainer Kirsten that always give 105% to help me and my teammates. Simply saying thank you is not enough, considering the endless support each and every one of them has provided to me over the last 5 years.
I will cherish those memories forever.
I know that leaving this chapter behind is going to be a hard step, but I can only hope that Washington has prepared me for whatever is to come next. I will miss the mornings on Lake Washington, looking at Mt. Rainier, and rowing with my friends around me. I will cherish those memories forever and hope that one day I will be back.
Goodbye Washington!
Sincerely,
Sebastian Ritter Class of 2021 +1