I was a soccer player all of my life; that was my identity for 15 years. I was the soccer player of my family and I loved every minute of it. When it came time for college I decided to end the chapter of my soccer career and to focus more on myself and my studies. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done. After I played the last game and hung up my boots for the last time, I found began to ask myself “What next?” and “What do I do now without the game?”

In a way after my last game I felt great to have all the free time I wanted, but I also felt like a huge part of me was missing. It was strange to not go to practice every day after school. All I had ever known when I was growing up was soccer. When I walked away I got the chance to do things I never really had the chance to do. I got to focus more on myself and my studies, I had plenty more free time. What happens after the game is you get all of this time you forgot was there and you get to hang out with your friends and family more. Something else happens when you leave the game behind that no one tells you. You leave a huge part of you behind. When you leave the game behind it is like a really bad break up where neither one of you want to let each other go, but it is something you both know you must do. There is nothing you can do to prepare for it; the pain and sadness hits you like a ton of bricks. You are walking away from something you invested all of your heart, mind, body and soul into. I find myself sometimes looking back and remembering where I got each little mark on my leg. I remember the pain I felt when I would have to sit out a game due to an injury because all I wanted to do was play. I would remember the joy I felt when I scored a rare goal. I remember the crowd in the stands screaming, and more importantly the distinct voice of my dad as he coached me from the stands knowing I heard every word he was saying. I can never forget the proud look on my parent’s faces after the game and my dad telling me “good game cupcake.” Whether we won or lost our parents and fans would always commend us for our hard work and effort. It was always something I strived to hear. I always wanted to make everyone proud and I did.

So when people ask, "what happens after you leave the game behind?', the truth is you never really do. Since my last game I have found myself making connections in my everyday life to the game of soccer. I pretend I’m playing a soccer game when I take a test and I’m at soccer practice when I do my homework. Soccer taught me you must put in the hard work to get the results you want and that is what I must do with my school work. My friends are like my teammates; we all work together to keep our friendships alive and well. My family are the fans in the stands they keep me motivated and striving to make them proud. I haven’t left the game behind yet, and I do not plan on it. The game has taught me some really wonderful everyday life skills and I hope to always have the game in my life.