Make a Wish

It’s October! The best month of the year.

It’s the beginning of fall, the weather is cool and when it rains it isn’t freezing yet. It’s in the middle of soccer season, and it’s my birthday month!!

Sue me for still being excited about my birthday, and yes I know that turning 19 is a pointless as far as check points go. Unless I make the effort to get a passport or enhanced drivers license to go to Canada for the weekend and drink with some friends, which probably won’t happen.

But to keep it positive I’m going to look at it as my last year before I’m 20 and that is a big deal. When you turn 20 you are no longer a teenager, therefore there is so much more responsibility and areas in life to be judged. But since I’m only 19…

I can still work at my movie theater instead of a serious job with people whose company I don’t enjoy.

I can still call my parents when my car breaks down.

I can still spend my money carelessly on online shopping and movies.

I don’t have to commit to a plan for my future.

I can still eat pretty much whatever I want, even if that includes snacking all day… which is usually the case.

Most importantly, I can watch stupid TV shows on MTV and ABC Family

So to everyone who is 20 and has their life figured out, just remember it’s my birthday month and I’ll be a mess if I want to.

For the Love of Sports

Coming home from the road trip this weekend to Ohio, our game Friday was an upsetting battle resulting in a 3-1 loss. The frustration brought by this game pushed us to focus in practice and start hard early Sunday. We did get the W, a 2-0 score to end the game. We huddled after the game. Our team captain told us to all remember this feeling compared to how we felt Friday and to put in the work to get the results we want in the future.

With all sports, not just soccer, and definitely not just collegiate the mental game is a huge part of the game. There are more times where you become frustrated or considering quitting or just want to be lying in bed than there are of just pure contentment. So why do we do it?

Why do we wake up before the sun rises to run sprints and summit ourselves to painful hits? Why do we practice 15 hours a week to play two games that aren’t guaranteed to make us feel accomplished? Why do we ?

Because in the end it is worth it.

The sprints are worth it when I can beat my opponent to the ball on the field. Staying in on Friday nights is worth it when you’re congratulating the team for the great win on Saturday. Being forced to eat healthy is worth it when I know I am performing my best and can feel proud about my play. Missing class for games or practice is worth it when… wait that will always be worth it.

In the end, to me soccer is not just a hobby, it’s my passion. I know I’m going to take so much more out of being apart of the team than staying in good shape during my college years or being able to say I am not just an average student.

Off of the field it’s taught me time management. Soccer has kept me focused on my classwork so my grades meet the team GPA goal of 3.77 or higher. I have learned to understand the definition of courage, determination, work ethic, quality, giving my all, and how important it is to hold myself and those around me accountable. Soccer has shown me how to stand up for myself and that through hard work I can accomplish so much more than I think.

It’s taught me the importance of treating the team like family, and the honesty, trust, responsibility, and loyalty that comes along with being a family.

It has made me a better person. That is why I play.

Too Much to Handle

I was sitting with a good friend at breakfast this morning and we were complaining about how much we wished we were still sleeping when a young couple and their baby came in to eat. A few minutes later another young couple came in with their child. Both couples seemed my age or just a little older.

We watched as one of the fathers tucked his toddler into a high chair. He grabbed the tiny little legs and adjusted them to fit better with the straps of the seat. We then started joking about how much it would suck to be a baby because people could just make you do so many things and you have no choice! After our conversation got more serious I realized how crazy it would be for that to be my life.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying anything against them. It just puts my life into perspective. I am nowhere near ready for any responsibilities past attending college, yet so many people my age are doing so much more. With serious jobs or internships, family issues, money and health concerns.

Everyone has something other than themselves to worry about.

Luckily for me it’s being a part of the Ferris women’s soccer team, my passion.

That’s why I was up for breakfast, for practice, not for my child or work. My epiphany this morning not only made me thankful for what I do have in my life, it helps me to appreciate all the others are doing in the world, especially parents, of any age.

It has to be so much work to monitor what your child eats, when they need to sleep or use the bathroom. Most importantly with how they are raised, always being supportive and understanding, to be the authority figure over the best friend. Parents need patience for mistakes and acceptance of who their child becomes. This is especially true with the activities that steal their child’s attention, like if it’s playing an instrument over playing sports.

If only this was Mother’s Day, my mom would probably tear up listening to me tell her how much I appreciate parents.

 

 

Run, Run, Run Away

I’m standing alone in a room full of people, terrified. My palms are sweating and the only thought running through my head is not to move. I have to keep my head up and scan the room with my eyes, while searching inside for just an ounce of confidence. Time seems to be moving so slowly. I had prepared for this but I was still getting light-headed and slightly nauseous, but I push those feelings away. I hold my voice steady now because I have been given the signal.

I’m on the clock and being graded now. 

The professor is staring intently at me as I continue my speech. I’m avoiding eye contact out of fear of freezing, but I can feel her watching. I did it. I made eye contact and I’m still talking. Wait slow down, I’m talking too fast.

I’m finally done. The class is clapping. I’m pretty sure I even heard some stifled laughs at my conclusion. Or maybe they were stifled because they were laughing at me. No, they were laughing with me.

I return to my seat and finally I am able to breath. That’s when all the thoughts come flooding in. Was my face red? Did I have anything in my teeth? What if my shirt was hanging weird or my hair was messed up? Did I talk with enough vocal variety? Were my points clear? I finally decide I failed.

“There are always three speeches, for every one you actually gave. The one you practiced, the one you gave, and the one you wish you gave.”

–Dale Carnegie

Class ended and I left.

Next stop was soccer practice, we had a fitness test to run. It was the beep test, I passed, and blew my preseason score out of the water.

Lesson learned: I would much rather run a fitness test than give a speech any day. 

Ice Cream Nachos

Yes, there is a thing and I had it this past weekend. I would say it was a little over priced but also the most delicious dessert I’ve ever had while walking around a zoo watching spider monkeys play on their island of branches and rope.

Ingredients:

• 2-3 sugar cones
• 4 scoops of vanilla ice cream
• Chocolate syrup
• Caramel syrup
• Rainbow sprinkles
• Whip cream

Directions:

1)      Grab a medium sized bowl or container

2)      Break up the sugar cones into small bite size pieces and fill the bottom of the bowl

3)      Add the scoops of ice cream on top

4)      Add the remaining ingredients in any order or design

5)      Enjoy!