Soccer has always been a huge part of my life. I started playing when I was about 4, just recreational leagues, then by the time I turned 9, I joined a travel soccer team and that was the best decision I ever made. So here's to you travel soccer:

Thank you for whipping me into shape.

Okay, rec soccer is one thing, but when you are on a travel team, you do so much more. You do torturous drills that will push you to the edge and exhaust you to no end. It challenges you in ways you never thought possible. The constant running and practices helped me lose a lot of weight as a child, and for that, I am forever grateful.

Thank you for teaching me about teamwork.

When you play as a travel team you need to know all of your teammates on the field better than anyone yourself. You need to know how to communicate and work together effortlessly in order to be the best team out there.

Thank you for making me a better soccer player.

Without travel soccer, I would be nowhere near the athlete I became. Yeah maybe before travel soccer I could kick the ball pretty hard, but I didn't have any of the footwork or field smarts that I achieved through travel soccer.

Thank you for introducing me to some amazing people.

I made so many friends through travel soccer, both on my team and not. The trips to far away tournaments were worth it because we would hang out in the hotels by the pool or in the sauna just taking the time to chill out before or after games.

Thank you for teaching me to be tough.

Whether it be staying strong during games, facing freezing weather with snow and ice, to running through 5-inch deep mud, to getting the crap beat out of you during games. All of these things collectively helped me become a strong person.

Thank you for giving me great memories.

From soccer camp in New York to the hundreds of tournaments, to winning the State Championship, travel soccer was the best.