When I first stepped foot on Bentleys Campus as a Freshman, it was to sleep in a trees dorm room for two weeks with someone I had just met, surrounded by people I didn’t know. At this time, all we had in common was our passion for a sport, and that together we were going to endure two weeks of physical and mental training to prepare us for the season. When I first stepped foot on Bentleys Campus, I was terrified.
Today, as the amount of times I step foot on this campus grow smaller, I look back with a different type of fear. I look back with fear for the day I wont be walking on upper with my best friends, the people who were complete strangers to me four years ago. I look back with a fear of who I will find myself to be without the sport that defined me for the past 20 years.
But more than this, I look back with immense joy and gratefulness for the decision I made 5 years ago to play soccer at Bentley, and the experience I was lucky enough to get during my time here. My teammates became my best friends in a matter of days. The athletic community became a second family to me, full of people I could rely on and look forward seeing. The memories I made and the lessons I learned with this family, I will hold onto forever.
Playing four years at Bentley has taught me the importance of discipline, toughness, teamwork and perseverance. I unintentionally have brought these qualities into the decisions and actions I make everyday and will continue to demonstrate these characteristics even without soccer in my life. I am proud of the person I have become because of soccer, and because of the people that it has surrounded me with. One notable moment for me during my career was when I was voted as captain by my teammates.
Being voted as captain by for my final season was one of the most rewarding experiences for me. It wasn’t about the title, but instead the privilege of leading a group of incredible teammates, the trust placed in me, and the opportunity to give back to a program that had given me so much. I took every game, huddle, and practiced this past season, to think about how lucky I was to be a part of something so special.
I was especially grateful for my teammates- their energy, support and commitment to each other. This experience has left on me an imprint that goes beyond soccer. It taught me about leadership, lifting others, and gave me the opportunity to become a better person.
I will forever be thankful for Bentley Athletics, and everyone who I met as a member of this community. Even more than anything, I will always cherish the people and memories I made through Bentley Women’s Soccer, and the friendships and lessons that will last a lifetime.