I have the awesome opportunity to work together with today’s student athletes at the collegiate and youth level. My goal is to help others identify what is meaningful to them, to set and strive for their goals, and to seize the opportunities to grow leadership. Through my new blog, I will provide helpful tools that will help encourage many to believe in their potential, to strengthen their leadership, and to have lasting and positive impact in the world.
Personal growth through sports transcends the athletics field. A glimpse into my history is just one of millions of examples that prove this true. Sports was a way of life and soccer helped me navigate to a scholarship to an amazing soccer program and university as the first in my family to attend college. I earned my Bachelors degree and was drafted to play with and against some of the best women’s soccer players in the world as a Professional and US National team/pool level player. Through sports I developed tools such as grit, resilience, confidence, and leadership necessary to set and strive for further goals. Following my professional soccer career I earned my Master’s in Education which led me toward my current reward of working together with today’s student athletes.
Although soccer stole my heart in grade school, I played all sports during my youth. I pitched softball to my mom out front, shot hoops with my dad, ran football routes with my brothers on the yard. I am so grateful for the many leagues my parents encouraged me to participate in as a young person. It was in 1999 that I was inspired by the US Women’s World Cup team; it became my mission to play on the world stage too one day. As an 11 year old girl I began to set short and long term goals. I identified my passion, what was meaningful to me, and the hard work and the sacrifice I experienced while striving toward my goals is what I treasure to this day.
I grew up hopping the fence across my street to train for soccer. I lived across the street from a pituresque training ground (my local middle school). I worked on my striking technique, first touch and more with the brick wall that met the grassy field. I had an entire soccer field, a track, and some stairs to myself. I had a clear understanding of what I was working towards, and became incredibly disciplined and goal-oriented in order to achieve my dreams. I did play with some of the best in the world, and it was incredibly fun (and highly competitive)! More valuable to me are the life lessons and leadership skills I developed during those years.
As I worked to play at the highest level I had the opportunity to experience the intense discipline it takes to not only compete among the best, but to also be an impact player; faced and overcame challenges; was challenged to get out of my comfort zone; worked together with people of different backgrounds; and had coaches with high expectations and demands. These are some of the experiences that helped shape me and prepare me for life outside of the sports realm.
Now, as a mom of 2 amazing children (who I am excited to share both love soccer!), I understand how important it is to be intentional with what I am teaching my children. This realization has propelled me to begin this blog, which I believe will provide helpful and unique insight for others to intentionally develop leadership and to enrich their own journey. Through this intentional individual development, I hope many will strive for their unique potential and take the initiative to be positive factors on their team, among their family and friends, in their school, and the world.