- 2018 Highlights
Personal Statement
Post Upper Iowa University (D2) and Bellevue college (JC) seasons
I have changed a lot as a player, coming to a D2 school right out of high school was a big jump for me, but it was the leap I knew I needed to take, it wasn't easy going halfway across the country, completely by myself, but I knew that this game would help me fit right in wherever I ended up. I loved the team and I loved the facilities. It seemed like the perfect place to be, a small college town, with no distractions, just soccer, and school. I ramped up my training as I had access to all of their facilities 24/7. I worked really hard, I gave it my all through pre-season and wanted to focus on being better every day. Our season went terribly, I soon realized that the division is just a number, it doesn't mean a school is good or up to par with the school around them. We ended up going 1-16 throughout the whole season, I played about half the games, but my confidence was destroyed. I went to an expensive private school in the middle of nowhere to follow my dream, just to be hit by a truck (metaphorically). The season went so bad, at the start we had 30 something players, by the time December hit we were down to 13. It got so bad our captains were telling us to get out while we could. I made the trek back home to Washington after only a few short months of being there. My confidence and my love for the game were shattered. I never wanted to play again. I didn't think I could, I didn't know if I had what it takes to keep putting all of my time and energy back into this sport. I arrived at Bellevue college just in time to register for the winter quarter in January, I knew I had just missed the regular season and had time to decide if I wanted to play spring season. After 1 month of attending the school, COVID happened. Suddenly the world came to a halt, and sports were the last thing people had time to worry about. I was not allowed to play the spring season of the following year because of COVID and my parents didn't want me out of the house. The whole year went by and in the summer of 2021 things started to look up. I started training again and played this last season with Bellevue college. I didn't know if I was ready to return to the game or if I even wanted to. All I knew is I owed it to myself to at least play this season and see if any sparks came back. My biggest weakness throughout my whole career has been getting too hard on myself when I messed up, after UIU, after training and working harder and harder, just to get embarrassed week after week, I lost the love for the game. At the start of the Bellevue college 2021 season, I came in with a different mentality. I was no longer going to stress myself out about messing up, I simply was going to play for god, play for myself and play for the love of the game. My reflection after this season has made me realize I am not the same player, instead of critiquing every wrong move I'd make in practice or stressing about how these mistakes will make me not end up at the higher level, I simply played for fun. I played the game the way it's supposed to be played. I no longer wanted to get better to prove to everyone that I could make it, I played because I loved the game, I played because going to practice every day kept me sane. I went from needing to make it in soccer, having my dream destroyed and thinking that I needed to find another path to be successful. I realized that this life is only what you make of it and it's not about being successful, its about doing what you love, it's about pursuing what makes you happy, and right now I have found my connection with soccer again, I have found my fire and I want to play this game for as long as it brings a smile to my face.
I just want to play soccer!
For me, soccer has always been natural. From playing on a soccer team to playing with my friends in the streets of our Apt complex every day after school until dark. For me, soccer has always been my happy place, through thick and thin, If I have a ball at my feet, and a couple of feet of space I could be happy for the rest of my life. Now, however, I'm facing the challenge of expanding my soccer knowledge and I want to see where this sport can take me. My goal is to play soccer in college, then try to play semi-pro or professional and work my way up. I've never had a life without soccer. I can honestly say that I haven't even gone a whole 2 days without touching a soccer ball. How can I not, its like a world of possibilities at your feet. For me, this is when I knew I need to play soccer, but I have realized that in order to become an elite athlete I need to be committed, determined, and very dedicated. I think that I am a very well-rounded player, I don't focus on trying to beat defenders every time or make the goal stopping tackle but I think I am consistent with my skills around soccer. I have an eye for intercepting passes downfield, I know when to pressure, and when you step in, I can pass and get out of pressure. I've played 2 years up last year on the B99 RLC 2 team, also playing a year up at EFC this year. I made varsity freshman year as a starter. In my junior year, I scored 5 goals in 2 games in the playoffs to get me Player of the Week 35. and now am a captain for next year's team. On top of my club training, I host pre-season training for my Varsity School team, to prepare them for the season ahead. As well as help those who cannot afford a team in the off-season. I've trained and made the PSPL Surf Academy Traveling squad. I always strive for the most competition, this has forced me to change clubs many times. My personality really helps, I'm very focused, have a good work ethic, and am very coachable. Being an outside back is all about transitioning. Knowing when to move up the field, when to stay back. When to pressure their winger and when to drop off to their striker. Soccer for me has helped me in all areas of my life. It has gotten me through so much, it's broken me through barriers, making me more confident and more willing to reach for the leadership position. I really enjoy being part of a team, who is all about getting to work. Taking training seriously and with high rigor, so that when game day comes, it is easier than the training you had the night before. Every time I step on the field, I make sure that my teammates and my coaches appreciate the effort I put in. Really, at the end of the day, I know that my behavior, attitude, and work ethic reflect my team, my school, and myself.
