Personal Statement
My name is Jazmin Gonzalez and I currently attend Northside College Preparatory High School in Chicago, IL. I am 5’0, 115 lbs, and usually play as a left midfielder. It was in a 6th grade gym class where my soccer journey had begun and I didn’t even know it. It was never my intention to fall in love with the touch of ball and the emotions that playing brings me. I didn’t have any interest in joining the soccer team, but my former coach, Nancy Valladolia (Coach V) is the reason I have grown to love the sport and continue to work hard on and off the field. Coach V saw that I was comfortable with the ball and she nearly demanded that I join the school’s team. I was very unsure at the first tryouts but I took a chance and began to enjoy learning and feeling the excitement from my teammates. Coach V gave me the opportunity to become captain that year and I took it with great pride because it made me a better player and a role model for younger soccer athletes at my school. I was chosen as the captain for 7th and 8th grade soccer team as well.
During my freshman year at Northside, I tried out for the soccer team, and I found myself to be very nervous because I thought I didn’t have the experience to make the Freshmen/Sophomore team. When I did make the team, I grew confidence and became comfortable with my new coaches and teammates. I was honored when my Coach Jason selected me as captain of the team. As a sophomore, I was given the opportunity to play some games at the Varsity level. Now, I will be going into my junior year at Northside and I have grown to love the sport more and grown as a player. I also play for the Celtic FC Chicago Club, Women’s Sports Chicago League and Chicago Fire.
Each day I am determined to be a better athlete by having a balanced diet and sticking to a regular work out. I do this for myself, but also to encourage younger students as well. To do this, I encourage them by assisting Coach V with her elementary school team. I feel committed to playing soccer and sharing my love for it with others. I play soccer so I can relieve stress, be a better person and have a healthier lifestyle. It shapes who I am and I want to spread that with everyone I come across. My goal is to work hard in order to have an opportunity to play soccer in college and then be able to pursue a long term goal of possibly teaching or coaching children soccer in the future.