How Soccer Changed My Life

Ever since I could remember, soccer had been in my life. If there was a soccer team that needed a coach, my father was always the first to volunteer. There were almost too many strenuous weekends spent hours away from home for soccer tournaments to count. My entire family, consisting of my parents, my siblings, my dog, and myself, packed in a mini-van heading to a city that I had never heard of for soccer games. But when I entered high school, all that would soon go away. I kept playing the same sport that I always had, although now I had to wake up at five in the morning for six hours of high school soccer practice in the smoldering summer heat in order to make the high school team. High School sports were more competitive than anything I had done before. I put in as much effort as I could to make the Varsity High School team, staying out past dinner to practice even longer. I was utterly divulged in soccer and trying to be the best I could be. Soon, I would regret placing a game over spending time with my family.

Throughout my life, I have had experiences that have shaped the way I am today. Growing up my mom and dad were my biggest inspirations, and they still are now. I remember coming home from school to work on big projects, and they would suggest ideas instead of directly helping me with the project. It seemed so insignificant at the time; however, now I realize that they have helped me to think on my own. They have also taught me to put my best effort forth the first time I participate in something. I believe that I am more careful, thoughtful, and hardworking when I work on different projects because of this. Over the years, my parents have instilled strength and independence into my life, and have supported me through all the ups and downs. My parents are the ones to thank for the way I am today, a strong, independent, hardworking, and thoughtful young lady. Sports have also shaped my character, especially soccer. Soccer has been my thing ever since I was little. This year I finished my senior season and realized that all the years of joy had come to an end. With all the sadness that came from this, I was also brought to happiness because soccer had influenced my life in so many ways. Soccer involved communicating with my teammates. If I was not forced to talk out on the field, then I might be a more introverted person. Being more vocal, has led me to come out of my shell and talk with those around me in everyday conversation. Soccer involved loosing. No one likes to loose,

There has been many important events that have occurred since I have been born but there is one in particular that has sparked a light in me that has changed the way i have looked at things. It happened when I was playing with the Sacramento FC and everything was going well until the middle of the season. When we got to the middle of the season things started to look shady. I wasn't getting playing time and that really opened my eyes to reality. Soccer was not the only thing that I needed to do in order to have a good life. I needed to start focusing on my dreams and different routes to success other then just soccer. It really showed what I need to do in order to survive in the real world. If it was not for my family's support through this

The next big milestone in soccer for me was when I was a freshman in high school. I went to Troy High and didn 't think I was good enough to play high school soccer. If it wasn’t for my best friend’s dad, I really wouldn 't have played. He told me that I would regret not playing and that I had a lot of potential. I decided to try out with my three best friends and we all ran and did exhausting fitness exercises for weeks during tryouts. First, we’d have to do five laps around the track. In the beginning of the season, those five laps are a killer. By the end of the second one, I am usually out of breath. After that, we’d get into groups and do stations, like jumping over bars or doing sit-ups and push-ups, basically anything to get us into shape. The third part of practice was sprinting. I like sprints because I am way better at running faster for one-hundred yards, than doing a long distance run. The next part of tryouts were the best, all the girls would get put into two teams and we’d just scrimmage so he could see our real soccer skills. Coach Haviland, who was the varsity coach, decided teams after the tough two weeks. He said I had a little maturing to do on the field and that I will be on varsity in no time. I was shocked! I didn 't even think he was considering me. I had a lot of fun with the Junior Varsity team and made lots of friends. By

Soccer is my favorite sport, no I don’t watch it on tv, nor do I have a favorite soccer team. So, it all started when I was eight years old I believe I told my mom that I didn’t want to do a certain thing anymore and that I wanted to play a sport a.k.a soccer. She of course told me sure. So she signed me up for soccer a couple of days later. I was so happy I was jumping up and down with excitement. Little did I know that I would love the sport. So, the day of the first soccer practice I was nervous I never done anything with the team and I had these questions running in my head like what if no one likes you here? Or what if you like the sport? Or what if you aren’t even good enough ? but I let these questions slide and I had learned how to play the sport. In that amount of time I thought no more like Challenged myself and said “ Cassie you can do this you are going to be apart of this team and you are going to be the best.” From then on I challenged myself, I practiced almost all the

Growing up, sports never seemed to be my expertise. Dancing my youth away, I never imagined to show passion for such an intrusive contact sport. My friends continued to nag at me saying “You have to try out for the soccer team.” My first year of middle school I stepped out onto the field. Occasionally forgetting to breathe,I focused right on the ball. I started to think to myself that I could get used to this. I mean how bad could it be? What I didn’t realize was I did not have much soccer skills under my belt, but making the team already was an accomplishment. I respected the captains when they talked, and I tried, day after day, to pick up the skills they possessed.

When I was 12 years old in 7th grade sitting at lunch with Asali, my science teacher asked me to go to soccer tryouts that evening and see what I've got. In last period I asked to call my parents and see if I could stay after school to try out for soccer, both of my parents agreed and brought me my cleats with clothes to change into. Then I went into the locker room to get dressed.

The object that I chose means a lot to me is a round object. It traditionally has black and white octagons on it. The colors and patterns on it have evolved over time. This object is needed to play a certain sport. I’m sure the object is obvious if you know me.

Almost all of the activities I have participated in have brought about unexpected challenges that have contributed to my character. My hobbies and activities have helped me learn about the world and the obstacles I will face in life. Football, Speech, and History have played major roles in school and my volunteer work.

As a Brazilian, soccer plays a significant role in your life since childbirth. Memories such as going to your first game or the ritualistic bacchanals every game day, are carved into your very soul. It runs through our blood; we eat, breathe,sleep soccer. Since an infant I admired Pelé.

“Rise to the challenge” that is the best line of advice I had ever gotten from my father, and the words I would say out loud when I was doubting myself or felt in adequate to the challenge. I was a soccer guy all the way when I was little, every day waking up and dreaming about making it professionally. Due to my interest in soccer I had a tremendously busy schedule during my childhood. Ever since I was four years old I practiced all the time, when I turned ten years I made an academy team and my life became all soccer after that. I had four practices a week with extra if need and not to mention we had a game or tournament every week. I still through all of this could be a straight A student. I looked at everything with competition I didn’t

Once I returned to my old high school I had my focus on one thing and one thing only being captain of my wrestling team so I could be the one leading my team to Golden Valleys first league title in school history. To reach this goal I gave up football not only because a lot of the guys on the football team viewed me as a meat head who would fight anyone at any time they would try to get me into their own personal problems hoping I could fight there battles for them, but the one thing that got on my nerve the most was them trying to get their hands on me to prove themselves to the other guys, so as a result I decided I didn’t want to be near these kind of people because not only were they no good for me being around them would never help me reach my goal; like Wherry told me before I was forced to leave Golden Valley the first time not every battle is worth fighting for so even though I enjoyed playing football I gave up it up to wrestle full-time. Once I had given up on football the next order of business was to get rid of all the negativity I had been carrying with me since I had returned from community school during my freshman year. I started to be more social; still not letting any single individual into my personal life but being nice to other, and to my surprise people actually enjoyed my company.

Hi, I’m Meggan. I’m a freshman at Minot State and majoring in Elementary education. I brought some things in today to tell you a little bit more about myself. But first I’m going to tell you why I decided to carry them in this bag.

Fùtbol or soccer, it doesn’t matter the way you say it, although what it has done for us as humans is very significant. For me soccer is everything I play it, watch it, and talk about it, the sport has led my life since I first gained interest towards it in grade four. There must be a reason why it the most watched sport in the world, it brings everyone in the world together no matter what race, nationality, or gender. Ever since grade six I have been trying to encourage soccer into my projects for school, I haven’t had a chance of properly incorporating my true passion.

Football is the sport I love, hate, cry over, think for days about, it’s the sport that changed my life… When I was little all I dreamed about was that one day I too would be able to the sport where I would get to hit them like I hate them and then after the play I could become best friends with them. The first game couldn’t come fast enough but then the games couldn’t go by slow enough and that’s where we are today. “The days go by slow but the years go by faster than they should.” When I’m on the field, my personality goes beyond me, it’s almost like I have no control over what I do and sometimes what I say. I get a full dose of adrenaline during the game, which I’m very addicted to the adrenaline, that is what keeps me going and excited for the next opportunity, moment, game, etc.