I started playing soccer on a team when I was 3 years old and I continued playing up until my senior year of high school. It was some of the best years of my life and I learned so much about team work and communication from that period of my life. Unfortunately I found I had heart problems my sophomore year and it hindered my ability to play and I lost a lot of my confidence.The fear of having something happen during a game or practice lingered on throughout each season and some realities started settling in.
So you know when they ask you in elementary school to write down what you want to be when you grow up? Yeah, Soccer Player was always numero uno. It was kinda my plan as kid. I knew I wasn't special (hey, still got that 3A all-team defensive player of the year my senior year AND ended up scoring at least one goal each year
), but I had a clear understanding of the game after 15 years of experience and I felt like that could carry me. Now that plan was quickly becoming a side thought and I needed to come to the realization that I wasn't going to play soccer in college or really ever again... and man, what punch to the gut that was.
Looking back after the end of my senior season, I think it was a blessing how everything turned out. Going down that path would've been very different than the one I'm currently on and it's given me the focus I need for my family and my religion. It's weird how things work out, but I'm grateful for the time I had playing the beautiful game. It truly is the greatest sport in the world.
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