Dear Soccer,

Thank you for always being there for me and for being my first love. Whether I am alone with a ball or a group of friends, joy is constantly brought out. You have brought me together with my best friends and have created memories that I will cherish forever. Soccer has always been my safe haven when I want to get away from the outside drama in my life or the stress of school and just play the great game. I am able to run around and focus my attention on something other than my current problems, at least for a few hours.

Yet most of my weekends are consumed by you and interfere with my life outside of soccer. Though at times I envy those who have a free weekend or are able to attend the party of the year, I would not trade it for the world. You have brought me wonderful opportunities, such as traveling to new places and the ability to attend a top tier academic university.

Playing this amazing sport at the collegiate level has always been a dream of mine ever since I was able to kick a ball. At first, I wanted to go to a major SEC, ACC or PAC-10 conference school to set up my enteral professional career. As time went on, I realized that this was not the case. As some may object, I realized that soccer is the not the entirety of my life (or is it?). I took note that soccer COULD live on in my life forever, just in another way. I noticed that I could use soccer to get admitted to a good academic college. I would be able to postpone the inevitable of my soccer career ending for another four years and alert up my future in the real world, as well. The everlasting effects of graduating from a well respected academic university will allow me to reap the benefits in the business world for the rest of my life, and I have soccer to thank for it.

Soccer, you have brought me incredible experiences and have introduced me to some of my best friends. I do not believe that I would be the same person as I am today without the help of my guiding coaches that have taught me numerous valuable lessons about the sport and life. To the sport that I love, thank you for impacting my life in the most positive way that I could ever imagine.

Yours truly,

Skylar