It All Comes To An End - Hannah Yoo
Hannah Yoo is a senior at Raymond High School, Raymond, WA
In spite of the fact that my mom never played sports herself, she always believed that they built character. I’m not sure why, but it could have been from all the Michael Jordan and Kobe quotes she wrote on sticky notes for us in which she would put in my lunchbox everyday. To nurture this idea, she put me in various sports activities from an early age, including swimming, tennis, track and dance. However, the only one I truly enjoyed was soccer.
The first time I played soccer was when I was in first grade on a recreational team with about eleven other girls. It wasn’t very organized. It was just a group of elementary school girls screaming and playing for the fun of it. In the following years, I found myself wanting to play competitively after my mom began signing me up for camps where I could test my skills and push myself out of my comfort zone. And soon, I found myself wanting to play competitively.
In middle school, I joined my first club team. In contrast, it wasn't like the recreational team I grew up on. I was surrounded by girls who had been playing competitively since kindergarten, so the adjustment was hard. I spent months on the bench, trying to learn the skills that others had already mastered. It was exhausting at first. Even though there were moments that I felt discouraged, regardless, I pushed through because I always enjoyed playing.
Months passed, and I began to make strides in my skills, such as my first touch, passing accuracy, and shooting. I also started to build strong relationships with my teammates. Playing team sports are incredibly special because of the bonds you form with your teammates, some of whom are still my closest friends today. Working together to build chemistry and cohesion was essential for the team's success. You could say winning, losing, and fighting the same girls together really helps form a special bond.
I particularly enjoyed the drills from my freshman year coach, which focused on quick one or two-touch passing as we began using a tiki-taka style of play: when a person would pass the ball quickly and keep possession. It was the first time that the team had to completely change our style of play. As we mastered our one-touch and two-touch passing, the biggest problem was learning where our teammates needed us to be. Disputes would arise over who made a mistake, but I learned to be accommodating, take responsibility, and communicate effectively with my teammates. I began to apply all of these skills outside of soccer.
My passion for soccer has enabled me to construct a strength of character - both mentally and physically - that I might not have otherwise been able to garner. During the third grade, I experienced my first ankle sprain, and it was not the last, as I suffered from six more over the course of the next few years. During my recovery periods, I was often playing “catch up” and had to sit out for months at a time. It was only after the last sprain that I attended physical therapy. Simultaneously, I was confronted with the fear of injury and the hindrance of rebuilding my abilities and confidence. I persevered and pushed myself, inspiring a strength that academics and other people could not have. To rebuild my endurance, I would go to local fields and train alone, or bike from town to town. After each injury, I found myself to be a much more resilient person.
As it all comes to an end, I’ve managed to finish four successful high school seasons, and I am now concluding my sixth club season. Now I enter the next chapter of my life knowing what I have learned over the years of playing soccer is invaluable for the real world. I am so grateful to Michael Jordan and Kobe for inspiring my mom, as without her support, I’m not sure that I would have been able to achieve what I had today. Soccer has made me a better person in every way and I am forever thankful.
