One of the greatest impacts on my life growing up and on who I am today as a person is sports. My father was a big Carolina Hurricanes fan, and this rubbed off on me. Hockey was the first sport I enjoyed and I was a fan since birth. At an early age, I learned how to skate and I was constantly rollerblading in the driveway after school or on weekends taking slap shots with rubber pucks on a goal my father had set up. Not only did this keep me active as a kid, but it served as an opportunity to bond with my father. This combated loneliness that is often perceived in only children.
My parents introduced me to many sports throughout my childhood, but soccer proved to be my favorite as I grew up. The morning dew and warm air of spring during my Saturday church league soccer games resonate with me to this day. As I aged and progressed to middle school and high school soccer I learned many valuable skills such as teamwork, sportsmanship, and friendship that I otherwise may not have learned as an only child. However, my experience in high school soccer was profound. Being on a team that worked hard towards the same goal brought a feeling of community and friendship that I hadn’t felt before. Long practices running mile after mile in the 90-degree heat and scrimmages that didn’t end until the sun set led to a unique bond between me and my teammates.