How Soccer Changed My Life

As I had anticipated, those were some of the longest and most difficult weeks for me to endure. I could not have imagined anything could be worse than not being allowed to play for 6 weeks, but 2 weeks into my recovery, I received an invitation to try out for the soccer Olympic Development Program (ODP). Being invited to try out as an 11 year old was an honor, especially since I was the only player from my team to get invited. I was so ecstatic and frankly surprised, but then reality hit me hard. Considering my situation, how would I be able to play soccer with a cast on my arm after not having even touched a soccer ball for so long?

Throughout my high school years, my cross country coach has always told me, “running is a mental sport, which is why it is so tough.” This saying stuck with me throughout my junior year of high school, especially after the cross country season. I have a love/hate relationship with cross country, but it 's shaped who I am today. Running is pain, plain and simple, that is what everyone runner goes through during every race. It took me a short time to come to terms with that fact. That is not to say I do not hate being in pain, but it has also helped me to become stronger.

There are many people who have been injured for mistakes made on the field. It is an extremely physically demanding sport. Marching band’s physical demands “are most similar to track athletes; additionally, so are their injuries,” according to Dr. Craig Bales. (Greenwald-Gonella) He worked with several drum corporations. Their injuries are so similar because both sports require a ton of leg work to move from one position to another on the field.

What I Learned From Soccer Soccer has taught me so much over the years. I started playing when I was very young, and continued through middle school. While I no longer play the sport, I still find myself reaping the rewards for my time spent on the field. Many life lessons were learned, but three really stand out to me. They are still major keys in my life today and contribute to who I am as a person.

Cheerleading is a very expensive sport, my all-star cheer program varied from 5,000-7,000 dollars per year, per athlete. Personally, my family could afford that but we were blessed to receive a lot of help as we also had to work for it. It put a lot of stress on my family and myself just so all four of us girls could be happy. I don’t want family athletes to not be able to achieve their goals because of their money situation. The plan I have will take years to accomplish the main goal.

I have participated in in cross country and track since seventh grade. Running is very important to me because I have put so much hard work into it and I always push myself knowing I can take it to the next level because I want to be the very best I can be. When I started my running career in seventh grade I wasn’t the fastest but I stuck to it and kept pushing myself. By my eight grade cross country season I was the fastest. It was a life changing experience and made me realize I have something special going.

I have lost sleep, missed soccer games and parent-teacher conferences, but have not missed a single class since I began. It has been challenging and more rewarding than I ever could have imagined. I was admitted to the nursing program for the Spring 2015 term, and this has changed my life. The community of students and faculty in the nursing program has been incredibly supportive, but the program is rigorous, and it has taken significant effort to be successful. In just this short time, I have become so at home at Kennesaw State that it is difficult to imagine the time when I walked around campus lost, sure I would never be able to find my way

Ever since the first time I kicked a ball as a wobbling toddler I have developed a passion for the game of soccer. Throughout my childhood, I would constantly dribble and juggle the ball around my home breaking all of my mother’s favorite frames and vases. I soon channeled my love for the sport into competitive soccer and joined my city’s local soccer club, Centex Soccer, when I was five years old. During my many years playing on the local team, I made countless friends and memories but it soon became time to move up in the soccer world. Myself and four teammates from my Centex team decided to join a more skilled and known soccer club called the Dynamos, which was located about an hour and a half away from us.

In the beginning of my Freshman year, I joined my high school’s rugby team. When I joined the team I had no background knowledge on the rules or how to play rugby. My first rugby season was very frustrating and challenging. Within the first week almost every girl excelled due to their knowledge on proper technique; while I struggled tremendously. I decided to stay and continue to learn how to play rugby because I believe in striving to achieve my desires, but at times I felt stuck in the same place on the same level.

During my junior high school I have a test in sports, which I am poor at that needs to be at a certain grade for me to graduate, for that reason with determination I train in these sports. I memorize every move and rhythm, I asked for my friends help and train with them, I keep doing workouts for the next week, I jogged in my neighborhoods to increase my stamina, and stayed up late at night so I am able to be decent at sports. Eventually the day came and I put in my hard work, and with the support and cheer of my friends I am able to gain a decent grade for me to