Soccer has always been something that I was enthusiastic about. I have played soccer for as long as I can remember and it's how I made some of my first friends. There has always been something about being on a team that I have loved. Moving around the world and starting new schools has always been tough on me. I'm not a very outgoing person and breaking into a well-established community can be hard. Getting involved in school sports has always broken that barrier though. I have become friends with some people who otherwise I might not have. It's nice to have your school friends and your sports friends separate because you know at least one will always be there for you.
At this school however it doesn't work in exactly the same way. Since it's such a small school everyone knows everyone anyway. However sometimes there are tensions between upperclassmen and underclassmen. In soccer everyone has to learn to work together as a team and I feel like I really got to be good friends with older girls who I might not have bonded with otherwise.
This year soccer has gotten a bit more serious at my school. There were tryouts and now it is mandatory to attend each practice and if you miss too many you'll be kicked off the team. Soccer is a major part of my life now and I use it as a stress outlet.
