FRIENDSHIP & BELONGING IN SPORT: A YOUTH MENTORSHIP PROGRAM POEM
In February, Girls Forward’s Youth Mentorship Program mentors and mentees came together for a workshop exploring friendship and belonging.
Through guided prompts, their words were woven into a collective poem, capturing shared themes and experiences on friendships in sport.
Friendship is like all of this and more
A good teammate is like the sun, present even behind the clouds
They warm my journey and bring light to my heart.
Friendship feels like a supportive environment
We cheer each other across the finish line and onto the podium, then turn around and work
Twice as hard to do the same next time.
At the end of every race they are there even if you win or lose
Friendship is like the cowbell at the end of a long stretch
Friendship is like a beautiful sight of nature that you can’t let go
Friendship feels like a breeze on a hot day,
It brings you freshness to move forward when things get in your way.
Friendship is like the smell of the ocean in summer
The calm in the sun and the crazy of a storm.
Friendship sounds like birds in the morning when you get to sleep in late
Like your favourite blanket casually tossed across your couch.
Friendship feels like being one flower in a long, handmade daisy chain
Friendship sounds like late nights spent talking
Laughing so hard you can’t breathe
Laughing loud at nothing at all,
Someone who answers every call.
Friendship looks like never telling a lie
And sounds like someone trusting you to ask for help
Friendship sounds like laughter whenever we chatter
The sound resonating even hours after.
Friendship sounds like loud fights then going back like it’s nothing because without each
Other that’s what you’d be.
Friendship sounds like wheezing, breathless laughter and looks like love
Friendship tastes like your favourite food that you keep close
Ice cream after the game
A freshly baked pie,
Delicious hot chocolate I pour into my mug
Nothing beats a hot chocolate except a best friend!
Friendship feels like a warm hug and your favorite mug
Or a warm blanket in front of a fireplace when it’s cold outside.
The comfy old couch that hugs you just right on your worst and best days
And friendship smells like the kitchen when my mom makes the legendary onion soup. Friendship feels like a hand guiding you out of a storm
Like a safety net,
A hug after a bad day that helps put you back together.
A familiar drive home after a long day away
A breath of fresh air on a stressful day.
Like the sound of your favourite song that you love forever
And the sun that shines after a hard cold winter
A friend is an encouraging, funny and caring person who is silly and tells good jokes
The person who helps me through the hard times
The group that encourages me to keep going,
The click that works for no reason.
The person that is not there is the person that hurts me
A good teammate sounds like a good friend
“When I’m down, you push me up, together we take on any challenge.
I know I have you by my side, and with our teamwork, we will thrive”
My teammates have drawn my blood, smelled my sweat, and dried my tears
They are by my side.
Next to me.
We embrace to celebrate.
We embrace to console.
“Through victory and defeat you make me feel complete”
When one falls hard hands pull them through “shake it off, we’re right here for you”
I hope I get to stand beside you yesterday today and tomorrow too