I travel a lot and rarely make it home to Seattle.

It's a complicated thing, knowing how much pain my father caused in my life and the lives of others whom I love, yet still holding love for him in my heart. No matter what he did, he was my father. He helped create the person I am.

In front of the world, all of a sudden I'm a great athlete and I'm put into an environment with 25 other women and I'm expected to go to team meals, team functions.

In truth, 2007 was the hardest year of my life. I lost my best friend. I lost my father.

I've had marriage proposals, invitations to military balls and even a few prom offers from 18-year-old boys.

I don't need a captain's band to lead a team to victory.

If you truly expect to realize your dreams, abandon the need for blanket approval. If conforming to everyone's expectations is the number one goal, you have sacrificed your uniqueness, and therefore your excellence.