Soccer is the medium that enables me to express myself best. I started playing at age five. I was an extremely timid and quiet child, and my parents thought it would be a good idea to register me for the township soccer league as a way of bringing me out of my shell. I immediately fell in love with the sport, constantly kicking the soccer ball around by myself or practicing with my sister, Grayce. As I got older, I had to manage balancing daily schoolwork with rigorous two-hour practices, three times a week. It would have been easier to simplify my life by giving up soccer, but each time I thought about doing so, my passion for the sport overrode my desire to quit.
Although my parents were skeptical, I decided to try out for the township travel team at age eight. With my name on the roster, my soccer career progressed to the next level. Although I had talent and natural abilities, the competition was tough; games were both physically and mentally demanding. At times I was ready to quit. When that feeling took over, I thought back to the hard work I had put in and the sacrifices I had made. I had to manage balancing daily schoolwork with rigorous two-hour practices three times a week. It would have been easier to simplify my life by giving up soccer, but each time my passion for the sport overrode my desire to quit.
After returning from an exhilarating community service trip to Panama during the summer of 2009, I was disappointed to learn that my travel team had folded. Six years of playing with girls who had become my best friends was coming to a close. I asked myself, “Should I choose to find another team or stop playing the sport that I love?” After weeks of weighing the pros and cons, the decision became clear. I would take the risk and join the new team. Although I was skeptical at first, I could not be more grateful for the new friends I made and the lessons I learned.
Soccer has transformed me into a leader on and off the field, and I have developed greater self-confidence. As I spent more and more time playing, I recognized what a tremendous outlet it was for me. Whenever I am stressed by an exceptionally demanding week in school or frustrated with listening to petty gossip, I put all of my energy and passion into the sport I love. On the soccer field, assertiveness, and even positive aggression, are both acceptable and essential to success.
