Dear Diary,

Today is Monday, June 14, 2021. I am 16 years old and nearing the end of my sophomore year of high school. I have 3 days left of my sophomore year and these are probably some of the most stressful days of the school year. I am submitting all my final projects and taking all my final tests that will determine the result of my grades. There is nothing more to do now, it is all coming to an end until finally, freedom. When I say freedom I mean being able to work around my own schedule and doing things that will benefit me in the future. Obviously school is very important for my future but I don’t need to listen to anyone else and do things that I don’t enjoy. I get to have fun and work hard over the summer. This summer is going to be very important for me as an athlete. I am working out every day and going to soccer practice to get my touches on the ball and cardio in. I am improving myself as an athlete to prepare for my most important year for soccer. Junior year is the biggest year of them all. College coaches are going to contact me. I am going to be taking the hardest classes for my subjects while maintaining a good spot on my team.

 Before I start thinking about goals for my future, let’s reminisce about all the things I have accomplished and learned over the 2020-2021 school year. First, I played my first game with my DPL soccer team in Arizona in August. The weather was horrible and those were the toughest 3 games I have ever played in. I was lacking fitness and the heat was getting to me. Let’s just say it wasn’t my proudest moment. Then I started school, which was all online. Met all my teachers for the year and learned about all the things we would talk about throughout the year. I was keeping up with my homework and studying. Everything was turned in early and on time. I started going to inperson school once things opened up and it was weird. There weren’t many people in my classes and you couldn’t see anyones face or be near anyone. I didn’t really like how I was by myself a lot so I ended up switching to 100% online. I was also going to practice and worked my butt off there. Between the sprints and different games we would play I was putting in all my effort. I also got my driver’s permit and started to drive. I was learning all the new things about cars and how to work one. It was very scary at first. I went back to Arizona and played some more soccer games with my team. I did a lot better in these few games than I did the last ones. Fitness was there and my touches weren’t horrible. Then I prepared for finals for the first semester and ended the semester with pretty good grades for the tough classes that I had. And just like that, the first semester is over and the new year has begun.

It is now 2021 and we are fresh into the new year and new semester. Soccer is still kinda going. We are having some games but not very many. Few months later and club season has officially started. We are playing games every weekend now. Tryouts for highschool have also started and I make it on to the Varsity team. I am a first year Varsity player on the soccer team with only 3 other sophomores. I am pretty proud of myself for getting to the highest level as an underclassman especially during covid. Club season is going good though. The first couple games weren’t the best but after that, I got playing time and I was getting good. Then, I went to Florida. Towards the end of April I had a showcase in Florida. The first time I get to play in front of college coaches and this is when everything seriously matters. I can’t have a bad game, I can’t be slow, I have to be awake and play my hardest 100% of the time. I also got to miss a couple days of school so that was fun. Let’s just say those were the best 3 games I have ever played. I was communicating with my team a lot. I was on my toes all the time and I managed to score a goal. I started 2 of the games and got a lot of playing time. I worked hard even during the humidity. I was very proud of myself. Varsity season however was not going great. We were losing and not scoring very many goals. Our team wasn’t really connecting well together either. But you know how highschool sports are, not as great and competitive as club sports. Anyway, that season comes to an end and I get my letter for my letterman jacket. Super exciting. Club season is trickling to the end as well and we finish in 5th place. Not the best result but we still make the playoffs and get to move up. Our DPL team is now ECRL and the other team is now Discovery. I made Discovery and I am more disappointed in myself than ever. I don’t know what changed between Florida and now but apparently I didn’t do enough. So, it is time to turn the switch on and destroy everyone. I need to work harder than ever to get myself back on track and on the better team. In the midst of all this soccer stuff I managed to get my license. So that is very cool and my parents bought me a car. School is coming to an end and it is the last few days left of the year until Summer. I have a lot of big plans for this summer and I am excited to get to work so I can achieve much more as an athlete. 

That is pretty much all that happened. There were highs and some very low lows. Soccer has definitely taken a toll on me mentally but is definitely something I want to do in the future. It is all I see myself doing. I hope next year is a lot better and things brighten up for myself. I wish myself all the best of luck and don’t ever give up. You are half way through high school and there is no turning back now. It is all about the last couple sprints. Just a little longer and we will be graduating. Have fun and don’t be upset over the little things. Bounce back from mistakes. 

Until next year,

Katie