No Regrets

I keep telling myself one thing: If it doesn’t hurt, it wasn’t worth it.  These wise words of a former teammate and coach are so simple yet so full of meaning.  You work for something your whole life, with everything you have to give, and suddenly it’s gone.  This is a very difficult thing to endure. Sport is so much more than a game.  It’s filled with passion, emotion, life lessons, and most importantly, relationships.  That same former teammate has taught me that what we get out of all of this, out of soccer, out of being part of a team, is friendships, relationships.  It’s not really about the soccer.  Soccer is a beautiful game, but we ultimately get so much more out of it than a winning or a losing record.  

It wouldn’t be fair if I hung up my cleats and gloves without a proper thank you.  The amount I have grown in the past 3 1/2 years is unreal.  I’ve grown as a soccer player, but more importantly as a person. There is a place for everyone, but I never thought God would bless me with the absolute perfect fit.  From day one I felt at home, and Auburn has evolved into just that, my home.

A wide range of thank yous is more than necessary. The Auburn Soccer Program is a group of people I have learned to love with my whole heart, and these people will forever be a part of my life.  I am still so sad knowing that my time here is done, but I have comfort knowing I call these people in 10 years and ask a favor.  I have grown from an awkward, insecure, wide-eyed freshman into a still awkward, confident senior that appreciates life and love so much more.   If you ever question whether there really is that “family” atmosphere at Auburn that everyone talks and tweets about, there is.

I’ve encountered a wide variety of beautiful people since I began this journey.  I was fortunate to find my best friend in the world.  If I am confident about one thing in this world, it’s that we will still be best friends when we are sitting in our rocking chairs at 80 years old. There are a few special friends who have been through more in the past few years than most people can imagine. More surgeries than you can count on one hand, more heartbreaks than seem fair.  But day after day these girls keep climbing back up to the top, against all odds, when most others would quit.  I admire these girls and their character more than they know, and I am so very thankful for their friendships.  There are teammates that have come and gone, and each one is as special as the next.  Each one of these girls mean so much to me, and I hope our friendships last forever.  The number of coaches – whether it be head, assistant, volunteer – have each taught me something different about soccer and about life.  That sometimes, soccer isn’t the most important thing and that sometimes, you just need a good laugh.  Whether they were laughing at me or with me (I honestly never knew), a laugh is a laugh. The support staff that this university has continues to make every athlete's time here more fulfilling because they are good people who care.  From administrators to trainers to strength and conditioning, and so many more, these individuals can make even the worst days feel not so bad. My seniors.  Each one I have a special relationship with that I cherish.  A best friend, a travel partner, a secretly happy nurse, a little spark plug, and the leader of the wolfepack.  My forever senior class that I love so much.

And of course these girls.. a cohort full of 25 girls with all different experiences and backgrounds, but with one common passion: teaching.  The support these girls have given me through my senior season is unreal! I love this group and am so excited about these girls making a difference in so many classrooms throughout the country (and even the world).  To my cohort girls, thank you!

Finally, my family.  The traveling, the emotions, the heartbreak, the happiness. They have been through it all with me and I couldn't ask for a better support system to belong to.  From day one they were as excited as I was to be apart of this Auburn Family. I love you.

This a thank you to all of the incredible people I love so much. Thank you for making my senior year one that I will never forget, and my career at Auburn a time I will always remember.  The best thing about it is that I am walking away with the one thing we are always told: 

NO REGRETS!

Moments

It’s hard to put into words the opportunity I was given last month!  A teammate, Ana, and I were given another chance to travel to Granada, Nicaragua to work with Soccer Without Borders.  It is an incredible program that gives girls an opportunity to play the beautiful game and form bonds and friendships that may not have been possible otherwise. 

I traveled to Granada last year to work with this same program.  Last year was an eye opening, all around great experience that led me to find a little more of myself while meeting some great people along the way.  However, the trip ended on a negative note.  The group of college students I was with played a game against the Nicaraguan National Team.  It was so much fun! But in the second half I sustained a serious injury to my left knee.  I returned home the next day on crutches and had knee reconstruction surgery about a week later. 

After telling a few people about my upcoming trip, the typical response was, “Wait, isn’t that where you got hurt? Why would you want to go back there?”  Everything I was able to experience in the past two weeks is exactly why I went back.

I could go back for the view alone.  Almost everywhere you go in Nicaragua, you can take in a different yet equally breathtaking view.  The sunsets, the lake, the volcanoes, the rooftops.  Simply looking out the window of Tres Pisos everyday will open your eyes to God's amazing beauty and grace.  What moves me the most about the program, however, is the people!  After a hug and hello, the coaches and many of the girls immediately asked how my injury was and were genuinely concerned about how I was doing.  But I knew that about two weeks after my surgery when I received three beautiful handmade get-well cards in the mail from the Mariposas, the Estrellas, and the Nicoyas. 

Ana and I were able to do and see so many things in these short ten days.  We attended and participated in practices with the girls, as well as the activity nights.  There is so much energy with these girls! I was also able to run a couple of goalkeeping clinics, which was a lot of fun.  The three, year-long interns we had the pleasure of getting to know were incredible and are putting so much hard work into bettering the program.  Their enthusiasm day in and day out was so inspiring.  One of my favorite things were the school visits.  The excitement and enthusiasm of the children at a chance to play soccer was unreal.  Pure passion for the sport! 

We also were able to see some of the beautiful country.  As we hiked Mombacho, kayaked the Isletas, and horseback rode up to Lake Apoyo, I couldn’t help but think about how fortunate I was to be able to experience each one of those moments.  Every moment I experienced while staying in Granada this month expanded my adoration for the country, the people, and the program.  So when people ask me why I went back, I tell them for the view.  For the mangos, and for the sunshine.  But most of all, I went back for the moments with the people and program that I have come to love.

Ana, Alejo, and I after a quick game of pick up at a school visit!

 

Outside of Tres Pisos, our home for the week!

 Swinging through the forest, no big deal!!

Ana and I at the top of Mombacho after an incredible 4-hour hike!

Kayaking the Isletas, the view is unreal.

The view we were able to see everyday outside of Tres Pisos. Looks like a painting.

These pictures are just a small glimpse into what Ana and I were able to experience this summer in Granada.  Another amazing experience that I will never forget.