It was March, just another normal Saturday. I checked my phone as I walked down the stairs. I poured myself a cup of coffee and stared out the window. I started to make breakfast. I separated the egg whites of 3 eggs and used them to make an egg white omelet. I was narrating this entire process out loud in the voice of Gordon Ramsey. I added sliced leeks, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, and crispy pancetta. The smell of the omelet carried throughout the house, soon all creatures were stirring and barking for a piece.  I sat down at the kitchen table and watched The Office as I ate. I morning tradition that brings me laughter and puts me in a positive mindset for the day ahead. 

I walked back upstairs to shower and get ready for my morning. The cold shower shocked my brain, increasing my alertness and energy level on the field. I put on a warm hoodie, sweatpants, and Birkenstock: A soccer player classic. I listened to Antenne Bayern on the drive to the field. It brings back fond memories of German trips. When I got to the field I parked my car, slung my bag over my shoulder, and started walking. As I stepped onto the pitch, my lungs filled with the icy air of the dawn. It was cold and I could see my breath as I exhaled. Practicing in the morning gives me the perfect shock that wakes me up. “Time to get to work,” I say to myself, as I tied the last knot on my boots. The ground was cool and wet, glistening from the orange rays of the sun. Upon my first touch, the ball rolled quickly, just how I like it. “I’ll be able to rip a couple of belters today on the net,” I thought as I started juggling the ball; it flew through the air, almost like it was hovering on my foot.  “Soccer has shaped my personality…I am an entity of the sport.” Not only do I love the sport but it has helped me stay in shape and become interested in nutrition and cooking. I work at a well-regarded restaurant, and making healthy and fresh dishes has allowed me to also be able to eat healthier, which helps me become a better soccer player.

I have also had the privilege of being able to travel to Germany and not only meet famous soccer pros but tour the stadiums they play in too! I have toured the Allianz Arena, Audi Sportpark, Hans-Walder-Wild Stadion, and Signal Iduna Park. These are the homes of Bayern Munchen, FC Ingolstadt, SPG Bayreuth, and Borussia Dortmund. My favorite club happens to be Borussia Dortmund, and I met my favorite player, the captain of BVB Dortmund, Marco Reus; I even got him to autograph a picture of him! I also saw a game in Bayreuth. The roar of the fans was deafening. This was a great experience for me because I got to meet a legend and someone who I always dreamt to be like. Although that won’t happen, I was fortunate enough to meet him and that is more than enough.

Soccer has taught me so much over the years. I have experienced many things through the sport, many being defining moments. I truly love the sport and do not know what I would be without it. It has taught me character and hard work. Two things that have made me a better person and given me a bright future. When I think soccer, I think “my life.”