Personal Narrative: My Love For Soccer

My passion is soccer which I have played soccer since I was 5. I was put in soccer because my mom and my dad were athletic and played many sports as a child. I was very active always running around so soccer was a good way to get my energy out. As I got older, I continued to play because I found it fun and it was nice to meet new people but I never truly felt the love for soccer until I was eight. I was on a team called, Too Hot to Handle with Coach Kakimoto.
On Too Hot to Handle, I had many friends and there were some really good soccer players on it. Duringing one of our games, everyone was all bunched together fighting for the ball but, I stayed out of it calling for the ball. My teammate Ivy got the ball and kicked it out to me and I took off running on a breakaway. All the parents were screaming cheering me on as I ran. Once I was close enough to the goal I shot and scored. Everyone was cheering and my teammate can and gave me hugs. I was so happy in that moment I felt like I could do anything and that's when I truly found the love for soccer.
I was on AYSO for a few more years after that with Coach Phil, who taught and encouraged me.
He made me more passionate about soccer by always believing in me making excited to play and work hard. After AYSO I switched to club with Phil. We throughout the many seasons of club my skills and passion grew. With club I faced the challenge of not having confidence in myself to dribble against other girls. I got around this problem by perfecting my passes so I could pass around the other team with this, Coach Phil also helped me gain confidence by believing in me and challenging me to work my hardest giving 110%. Then high school started, I tried out and made the
team. High School open new doors for improving my skill and facing new challenges of gaining playing time. This caused me to keep working super hard and prove my dedication to my coaches. This year I switched club teams to the Pateadores, with Coach Dave, who's teaching me how to play next level soccer and showed me there's no off time you should always be working hard no matter what you are doing. He also explained that we all have a purpose on his team and he wants the best for each one of us. Now High School seasons starting and I’m made JV, which shows I have improved and all my hard work is getting me somewhere. Next year I hope to make Varsity and I will be working super hard to get me to that point.
Soccer hopefully will be a part of my future in College. If I keep improving I will start reaching out to colleges and hopefully get a scholarship to a school. This will make college more affordable and I can meet new people while playing a sport I love and enjoy. Soccer is my safe place when I’m mad or sad I like to go out to the field and just kick the soccer ball till I'm calm or content.