I was one of the many student-athletes who tried out for soccer during my freshman year of high school. Little did I know that there was going to be a huge change between 8th-grade and high school soccer. I was so nonchalant about soccer that I did not decide until the night before tryouts to play soccer and not run cross-country. If I had picked cross-country, I never would have had the coaching experiences in soccer that made me who I am today.
On the last day of tryouts, the core of the team was already selected. I was not part of the core. I had the feeling that I had to do something to step up and separate myself from everyone else if I was going to have a chance to make the team. It was too late to get faster or stronger, so I concentrated on being the best communicator on the field. As the goalkeeper (true for any position), I need to be in constant contact with everyone on the field. I made sure that everyone on the field knew what was going on and that the coaches could hear me. I was too young to realize it at the time, but I was being the leader and communicator that day that I still strive to be today.
I was one of the last people chosen for the team. 4 years later, we were crowned the Parochial State Co-Championships (no penalty kicks in HS championships at the time). It was an amazing experience that never would have happened if I did not speak up (literally) in August of my freshman year. It is amazing how we act when we really want something and we realize that might not get it.
Know who you want to be. Work diligently to be that person. Think outside the box. Never forget to be an excellent communicator
Every day is an Interview.
Everyday is an Interview 