You'll never forget that feeling. The feeling of hearing your number and name called out of the stadium speakers. Looking up into the stands and seeing your friends and family screaming for you. The intensity of the stadium lights raining down on you. Hugging your fellow teammates when they score and consoling them after a tough loss. It's been 2 years since my last official soccer game, and I can still remember all of those feelings as if they just happened.

I played soccer for nearly 16 years, it was my sport. I always considered myself pretty athletic, but soccer was definitely my thing. I played travel ball, all the way up to the premiere level, and then I was a varsity starter all through my high school career. I simply loved the game. At times it was stressful, but soccer taught me a great deal about balancing. Playing soccer and being in honors courses is not an easy thing to handle. I learned (and even know I'm still learning) to manage my time wisely. Even on the field, it had to be about balance. At the beginning of the season, I would be in worse shape then I would be at the end of the season. Therefore, if I went all out in the first half, I would be dead by the second. I had to balance my way of playing, which meant more passing in the first half and working it down the field instead of ball chasing.

I learned a great deal of how to understand and deal with different types of people as well. There would be games where things would get rough. Hair pulling, cursing and dirty fouls did happen on occasion. There are two ways to deal with those types of actions. You can give it right back and possibly end up getting carded or just disregard it and continue playing the way you know how to do. I wasn't the player that would talk back or get even because I didn't see a point in it. Why would I want to stoop down to the level of those other girls? You can take that into the real world too. If someone wrongs you, you can get even with them. No, you won't get carded like in soccer, but it will come back around to you eventually.I also learned a great deal of responsibility, especially my senior year. I was often called the "mom" of our little soccer group. I would bug people about injuries to make sure they're getting proper treatment, I would drive the girls places to eat before home games in the "Shan Van," (I drove a Honda Odyssey in high school and it was great) and I would just make sure that they were doing well in general.

I really do miss it. I miss the bus rides, being called "Shankin' Shannon," (I would take shots from 40+yds out and they would go over the goal, it was a problem) and I miss the game in general. There is truly something special about being under those lights and knowing that people are counting on you to do your best. There is something about scoring a winning goal and running over to hug your teammates. There is something about a tough loss and being there for people when they need it most. I still play pick-up games in college here and there, but it's nothing like it was before. In saying all of this, to anyone still in school and playing soccer, you should really cherish those 4 years because they do disappear in a blink of an eye.