Naomi cator-Szymanski '21 Recruiting Profile

    I started playing soccer because my best friend and her father created a team. Originally I didn't enjoy it that much, my foot skills were rough which made the game hard. I was embarrassed to be the worst on a team. About 7th grade I really started to enjoy soccer. I loved the rush of adrenaline when I dribbles by someone and was heading towards the goal. I also really enjoyed being around amazing girls who made it so much fun. By eighth grade I had really started to focus on soccer and getting better. I did as many summer camps as possible so that I could try out for the varsity team. Miraculously, I made it, as the year went on I continued to improve. My touches got better and I started to understand placement and all of the technical parts involved in being successful. After that season I joined Tc Waza in Ithaca so I could continue to improve and become even better. The better my skills got and the more I understood soccer, the more I loved it. I enjoy soccer because of all it has offered me; It keeps me in shape, I am constantly learning and improving, I make friends, I can travel,  and mainly I have found something I am passionate about. I have learned that I am extremely competitive and risky. Soccer has also taught me patience, I used to immediately kick the ball as hard as I could. I was unable to control my strength and touch, but now I can control myself. I am able to wait for a play to be carried out. Soccer has helped me tremendously with my communication skills and with working with people. Everyone has their own strengths and if you play to someones strengths then you can achieve what you want. Soccer has become a huge part of my life, it has helped to shape me as a person.

    I hope to continue my education at a college with a competitive soccer team that will improve my level of play. I will be studying environmental conservation and then after I receive my degree I hope to make a difference in the world. I am fascinated by animals and the environment. I am so passionate about their health and safety. I have been around animals my entire life and I constantly try to help them whenever possible. I actively try to spread awareness about current problems within ecosystems and I try my best to help the planet. People depend upon the earth yet don't respect it and I want that to change. Other than my conservation major, I would also minor in visual art. I have drawn my entire life, art is very calming and enjoyable for me. I have won many awards and found success with my artwork. I want to have a job where I make a difference. The world is incredible but it also needs to be protected.