How Soccer Shaped Me into a Better Man
Joining the Men’s soccer team at Wesleyan has been a journey of personal growth, both mentally and emotionally. This journey has been about becoming a strong-willed and mentally strong individual who can handle adversity more than it has been about becoming a better soccer player.
From the moment I faced my first major obstacle, a stress fracture during my freshman year, I realize now but not then that this experience was going to shape me in ways I hadn’t anticipated. Being unable to play the game I love, especially during such a pivotal time, was a tough pill to swallow. But in that difficult moment, my perspective on being a part of a team began to shift.
Freshman Year Injury
The injury forced me to see the game from a different angle. While I couldn’t physically contribute on the field, which I had done throughout my whole career, I learned how to make an impact on the team in other ways. My focus became less on myself and more on how I could support my teammates. I started doing the little things like getting cones, filling water, and cheering from the sidelines. These small actions acts made me feel connected and involved despite my injury. I realized that being a good teammate isn’t always about scoring goals or making tackles; it’s about contributing to the team’s success in any way possible.
Rising into a Selfless Leader
Sophomore and junior years came with their own challenges. I wasn’t a starter, which initially felt like another setback. But instead of feeling discouraged, I decided to embrace a leadership role in practice. I saw the importance of pushing the team to improve daily, even if I wasn’t on the field during games. I took pride in making all my teammates around me better and fostering a positive, competitive environment. The energy I brought to practices, pushing everyone to their limits, became my contribution to the team’s growth.
Though my time on the field has been limited, my growth off the field has been immense. I’ve learned resilience, leadership, and the importance of putting the team before myself. These lessons have not only made me a better teammate but also a better man. Soccer may have started as just a sport for me, but it has become a key part of my personal development in ways I never expected.
