I remember contemplating whether or not to play soccer in college (that is, for a school's Varsity team). I spent nearly my entire junior and senior year of high school debating in my mind over whether or not I wanted to fully commit to the grueling recruitment process necessary to get myself a spot on a team, in my case a Division III team. I always knew that although soccer was an essential part of my life -- something I would never dream of giving up -- it wasn't something I wanted to take over my life. That's primarily why I began looking into Division III schools. Though certain campuses and universities caught my eye (and in some cases, I caught their eye), it always seemed that I had one foot out the door, or that things weren't panning out the way they usually seem to do. I always found a reason for why I seemed "behind" the girls on my club team: I started playing soccer at a competitive level too late, my teammates had better connections and experience, I had no older siblings to look up to in the matter, my parents didn't understand the process as well as I'd hoped. But in the end, I knew that these were just excuses. There were two real reasons why I ditched the process altogether. First, I think part of me was scared to commit and scared of playing at the college level (a feeling that I regret and believe was unprecedented looking back on it today). Second, I did not feel it was necessary to sacrifice going to my dream school in order to play soccer -- although it's the sport that I love -- at a slightly less desirable university.

Present day, I play for the Women's *Club* Soccer Team at Georgetown University, and despite the fact that I have never been happier, I cannot help but miss my days of high school soccer. I would like to speak to everyone now who plays a high school sport -- never mind if you plan on continuing your play at the college level, or playing club, or stopping altogether -- and tell you to enjoy this time while you still have it. I had the benefit of being, in my opinion, on one of the greatest teams at Westfield High School (although apparently we were also the most made-fun-of). To be brief, this team was in every aspect hardworking, committed, intense, and beneficial in every mental and physical aspect; and I miss being a part of this more than anything. Although this is just one team and strictly my personal experience, I would tell high school athletes today to do a few things while they can. First: do no take any day for granted. Second: respect your teammates, coaches, friends and family who support you along the way. And third: remind yourself every day why you play. In all honesty, sports seem kind of stupid when you think long and hard about what they actually are; but it's important to recognize the merits which come from them and how they affect you in the short term and long term.

I'd like to end just by saying that high school, in many aspects, was a totally restrictive environment I could not wait to escape. Yet altogether it was soccer that made it worth the while. I miss high school soccer and the exhilaration and structure it brought me. I hope that if a high school athlete reads this, maybe they will understand my message and have a chance to fully appreciate this time in a way that I sometimes did not.