Recently I came across a video of my team and I at our first game of our first tournament ever. So little and so excited to share the field with my best friends, it took me back to the happiest time and most important thing I had come across in my 19 years of life.
When I count my blessings, I count my ability to grow up on a soccer field twice. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about everything soccer has given me throughout the years. I am who I am because of all of the lessons, on and off the field, I've learned while playing. Being a child turned high school athlete has been a crazy ride, and there isn't a day I've regretted the countless hours and dollars I have invested in pursing my talent.
Anyone who has been involved in athletics can agree that it's most definitely not just a game. It's so much more than ninety minutes running up and down the field trying to scores goals. For us, it's about the first time we've ever stepped onto the field, no more than 4 feet tall with dreams of being the next member of the Woman's National Team one day. It's about the oranges we eat at halftime, and the juice boxes at the end of the game; no matter if we win or lose. It's about being 7 years old and "racing" our coach after practice for ice cream, and us "beating" him finally at the last practice of the season. (We never caught on to him letting us purposely beat him at the last practice). It's about scoring your first goal ever, and looking at your parents on the side line; grinning ear to ear. It's about making the cup team you've spent months training for and gaining 15 new teammates; that will soon turn into your best friends. It's about the coaches we love to hate, but appreciate at the end of the day. It's about the first time we perfect a set piece in practice and it actually score off of it during a game. It's about the countless 400's we ran, or wolf-packed, (sorry, coach) and Man-U's we dreaded, but lived though (barely) and the jokes we made about puking and crying on the 4th one. It's about the last run of the last day of hell week, and the feelings of accomplishment and proudness when you get your jersey for the season. It's about becoming a "big sister" to a nervous freshman, and watching them grow as a player and person, who before you know it, becomes your best friend. (shoutout to Sam). But most importantly, it's about the memories that we can't seem to forget throughout all of our years playing the beautiful game.
Most of the time, the memories aren't the ones where we win the regional tournament, or beat our biggest competition in our bracket. While I have many fond memories of success and winning, the ones that stick out when I reflect on my 13 years playing this sport are the ones off the field, with the people who help me succeed on the field. The countless sleepovers after Saturday games, to the parties of 30 at restaurants, and the carpools full of stinky soccer bags and lots of snacks (soccer moms are always prepared with food), we took these moment for granted, and would do anything to have these little (but now big) moments back.
Being an athlete has given me so many skills, but the greatest thing soccer ever did for me was the life-long friendships I've made on the field. I could not thank soccer more for this. There's many times when we've all gotten together and laughed for hours about the crazy things we used to do at tournaments, or how we used to almost get kicked out of every hotel we stayed in. (sorry coach, mom and dad). While these days are very much over, there's a special bond that will always remain through the years because of the memories and experiences we share. The best memories I have of my childhood are those that involve either being on the field, or being with the people I played with- there's just something about being surrounded by 15 girls that share she same passion and drive that you do.
There will not be a day that goes by that I don't feel thankful for being given the gift to being able to play such a beautiful game and make such strong connections with the people who also shared my talent. Shoutout to all of the friends I've made along the way, and for the memories I'll never forget. Thank you for making me love something more than I ever knew I could. I found my first love early, and being an athlete was definitely it.
