Personal Statement
"Tanner, you take it." These were the words that I was told at a naive 12 years old, that would change my life. I had just recently moved and was trying hard to prove myself on the new team. I had been practicing my shot specifically over the 6 months of our move to be able to have the best shot on the team. When an opportunity arose in our first game, I listened to my coach and took it. I had rehearsed that moment in my head thousands of times before it had ever happened, so I was ready. When the time came, I stepped up and buried the goal. The feeling that I got from that has been my motivator to continue soccer throughout my career. Every time I get on the field I get that same joy and satisfaction. The feeling of competition and success is what is driving me to play at the next level. In every team that I am on, I work to win and relive the feelings of joy that come with success. Another thing that is equally as important as the physical game and winning the trophy, is the mental side of the game. I think that the mental battle is the hardest part of the game. As a midfielder you control the game, if you lose focus or have a moment of frustration, things can go south very quickly. In saying this, I do my best every game to run the game with a positive mindset. This includes not only my thoughts, but also interactions with players on my team and the opposing team. I also carry a positive mindset through life off the pitch. I think that there is no need for excessive negativity in any interactions whether it be with teachers, parents, and peers. My goal is to play soccer at the collegiate level, while also majoring in Biology. After college, I plan on going to medical school to become an orthopedic surgeon.
