I never realized how much soccer has impacted my life. I’ve always just thought it was a sport that I enjoyed and that the reason I continue to play, is because I was told that I am never aloud to quit. I may have taken it for granted and that became very clear to me due to some recent events.

I have recently fractured my ankle as well as suffering a grade three sprain. Thus meaning that I am not able to play for at least another month, maybe two. I am missing my entire high school soccer season without playing a single game on this team, but at least I have one more year to play.

After this occurred, I realized that soccer meant much more to me than it just being a sport that I’ve played for years. I realized that soccer is my life, my identity, and the reason I’m motivated to do mostly anything. The thing with soccer is that you can express your emotions through the game play and that’s what I think I love the most about the sport. I have never wanted to play more than I do in my life, and that’s because I have had a short experience with having the thing I love ripped away from me.

Now I am learning to appreciate the amazing game from the sidelines and help support the team in any way I can. And if that means helping coach the ones on the field and giving the people playing my positions pointers then that is what I am going to have to deal with for a little longer than I wanted.