Personal Narrative: My First Day At The Girls Soccer Team

I was excited for a new beginning in my career, maybe to prepare me for high school in the upcoming years. The idea of beating boys in soccer got me excited, my blood pumping harder through my veins and put an extra spring in my step. It was the first practice of our middle school season, where my life would be turned upside down. I ran down the field as normal, going for another shot on goal, but out of nowhere one of boys came from behind and completely took out my knee, causing me to collapse in pain. Lying down on the field, my sanctuary, the place I saw as home was probably the most grueling time of my life. Injuries were common in my life, but this injury was unlike any other. I could not get up off the field and felt as if there was nothing left in my knee, and every time I tried to get up, I fell right back down. I never sat out a practice until that night and figured one day would be enough. One night was clearly not enough, I was never able to catch back up to my full speed, or be able to cut around the field, which resulted in moving positions from forward, to defense to cut back on the running. I thought this would a temporary position, but I played every game in

The pain was nothing like I had ever felt before. I had never broken a bone so I didn’t know it would hurt like this. It felt as if the world’s strongest person had just punched me in the lower back. At the time the pain was shooting all the way from the bottom of my tailbone to my mid-back. There was a tear running down my face. Everyone on my team, and all the parents on the sidelines, knew Iam injured. They knew this because I would never cry during a soccer game unless I was in pain.

Last year I went to a different high school and I was part of the Junior Varsity soccer team. It was my second year playing for the team and I was elected to be the team Captain by most of my teammates and even the coach. I was chosen to be captain on a practice before our first game, I told myself that I will lead my team to victory and win all of our games to take the B.V.A.L title for J.V. We ended up winning our first game but it was hard because we had no communication on the field. Since I was captain I was doing all of the screaming instead of the coach. One thing that I found out after that game was that I should have been easier on the guys and tell them to do their job instead of yelling at them. So after that game during our practice

Throughout my high school career, I have been blessed with the students and teachers that have surrounded me. Thankfully I have never engaged in heated discussions with others in order to defend my beliefs. On the soccer field, I can say the same, however, I did speak up on matters that caught my attention regarding team efforts and the chemistry among my teammates.

Ever since I was able to walk I have participated in sports from cheerleading, soccer, track, and etc. I remember after cheerleading practice, my friend and I would join the boys in a game of football. We were decent in football, but I felt we would have been better if we were part of the team. We wanted to drop cheerleading and join the football team, but there would be controversy within the community. Growing up I always wondered why there was a men’s football team, but never a women’s football team. There are usually a men and women’s team in every sport, except football. Therefor it is only right for women to have their own football team.

I used to believe that soccer was, well, just soccer. I'd play for my rec team, in which would consist of one practice and one game a week. Nothing special, and not too stressful. After I got tired of rec soccer, I joined a travel team. To be specific it was the Mahwah Raiders. It was a step up from rec, I now had two practices and one game a week. This wasn't too crazy for me- I was fine with the timing and schedule of everything.

My freshman year I made the Varsity soccer team. Every practice I had to strive and work harder to be able to keep up with the upperclassmen skill level and talent. I was finally getting to where I wanted with consistent practice. I became a starter and the upperclassmen would pass me the ball more and help me on the field when there were opponents on me. It wasn’t until the middle of the season when everything changed. We were playing against a school who was very skilled and talented. It was in the first half of the game when one of the girls on the opposing team had the ball and was dribbling it down the field. It got past our midfield players and two defenders. I was the last one before it reached our goalie. I ran towards her and with everything I had I kicked the ball.

“Yes, we are all here.” answered my aunt. As we were all slowly driving to the Detroit Lions football field.

Hey Nathan, its Lauren Whitaker and I have some exciting news.” This is exactly how I began my conversation with him. “What’s up Lolo? It’s great to hear from you!” He replied. “I’m great, but I have found the college that I would love to go to and wanted to run it by you.” I was nervous to tell him this because he always told me that I needed to make sure the college was perfect for me. “That’s great news Lo, which one is it?” He exclaimed. At this moment I was so scared to tell him which school I went to in fear that he would not like it. This compares to the anxiety felt when fathers do not approve of their daughters’ dresses. “Florida International University, it is in Miami.” I said hesitantly. “That is great news, Lauren! That is such

One of the happiest three months of my life was when our soccer team went on defeated. I learned that you can’t win all by yourself. Our coach was the main motivation behind our success.

During my Senior Year of High school, I finally decided to join our school’s soccer team. Although I had attended the school for 3 years already, I was always too skeptical to join due to conflicting events and rumors that made the team seem very unsteady. When I finally decided to try out for team, it was a huge eye-opener to see the amount of people wanting the same outcome; to be selected to join the squad. As tryouts finished, I was lucky enough to make the team and begin my new journey for my last year. I had never played for a school team and I did not know any of the players. Everyone seemed to know each other and have great team chemistry. This would be my first experience with “onboarding.” “To signify everything from recruitment to orientation, to the effective settling in

All of us were extremely excited because of our first college game. Most of us consider it as one of the most important game in our young soccer career and we just had to win. We had been waiting on this moment over a month now and it was finally here, which we spent rigorous training session knowing that we would be facing different challenges every second of the game. This game was the real test of our team’s togetherness and quality to see if we have what it takes in becoming professional soccer players one day.

In the summer of 2008, my family moved into Laurel, Maryland. An old friend of my father invited us to come over to his house to meet each other's family and talk about old times. Their family wasn't big compared to our family; I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters while he had 2 daughters. His daughters invited me and my siblings to play soccer in their backyard. We agreed without hesitation. We couldn't split into even teams since it was 7 kids playing. So we decided that me and my older brother would be a team since we had more skills in the game. It was an extremely competitive game between us, I was pushed to my limit when suddenly I saw a stream of lights flicker throughout my eyes and collapsed. My initial reaction was to breath, but my

Dalia and I were in our final round to see who was the champion, I already knew I was done for. The score was 15 to nine. I started the game, I saw Dalia race towards me like a horse. I started to feel a sense of uneasiness as she closed in on me. She was trying to steal the ball from beneath me, but I didn’t budge, determined to at least make one more shot. I glanced at my mother sitting on the porch for a quick second when I heard a sudden pop from beneath me. I thought nothing of it since I thought it was the soccer ball’s plastic that made the noise. My sister stole it from me and I wasn’t amused nor surprised when she made another shot towards the net. That was game

Everyone was sent home early by Mrs.Bardell. I walked home because I couldn’t get a ride from Sarah's mom.