As my first year of playing college soccer comes to a close there are many things to look back on.
One thing I have learned is to just jump. Second, make sure what you do is your passion. Three, give it everything.
I wasn't even planning on playing soccer in college, I had only one season under my belt and that was just last spring, my senior year. Throughout my season, I fell in love with the game. However knowing that I wasn't going to have a chance to play again, every game was my everything.
Showing up to Hills the Sunday before classes started to make sure everything was in order, I knew there was a game but didn't want to go alone. I was set on leaving, until I saw the field. The girls game had just started. I gave in, and went. Standing at the edge of the field two thoughts kept crossing my mind. 1) these boys behind me are going to think I am crazy due to excess commentary of the game 2) I really want to be out there. I felt that in my bones, and heart. As the game went on, I turned to ask one of the guys behind me a question and turned out they were on the boys team. So we got into a nice little discussion of soccer, as my luck would have it, the girls were down on numbers and needed girls. Especially some defense, which I played. This was crazy to me, I didn't think I could just walk up and be hey I think I want to play as the season was starting, but apparently I could. So I did.
Showing up to practice the next day I was so nervous, I hadnt touched a ball since May, was not in shape, and knew no one. But I knew I wanted to play so I was going to do whatever it took. I had told myself if I was going to do this, it was 110% everyday, anything else wasn't acceptable, it was college level.
Practice ended up just fine, and of course I was all anxious about nothing. It turned out that the team had a tournament that weekend, I wanted to go but thought I wouldn't because I hadnt even had a weeks full of practice with my team. Once again I was wrong. Coach said he normally waited a week to take people but he saw me working hard throughout the practices (they were the two worse during the season) and since I showed up with everything in order the next day to practice, he was going to let me go. We ended up losing all our games that weekend, but I even saw some playing time. So it was an overall good weekend for me.
Since then, everything has happened so quickly. I feel as though I was just at that game, at that tournament. I cannot thank my girls enough for giving me a wonderful welcoming onto the team, who have encouraged me, helped me, and ultimately gave me wonderful first year of college soccer.we have had our ups and downs as individuals and as a team, but we wouldn't be the team, the friends we are today without them.
I jumped, it was my passion, gave it everything, and that has made my college experience that much better, plus it helped the friend situation, which I was also nervous about.
