You might think you're climbing to the top, but sometimes you're already at your peak. In 2023, my game was at its best. I was training constantly and trying to climb my way to the top. I had just joined Sounders Academy and was working to be the best. Many early mornings and late nights kept me sharp. Finally, when I was ready to showcase my results, an injury sent me reeling right back to the beginning. My back had fractured in the first game of the season, and the recovery would be long and arduous.

At first, I was prepared to take on the physical therapy and fight to come back stronger. However, this did not happen, and the love I once had began to fade. I sat on the sidelines for hours watching everyone progress, making me feel like I was falling behind and there was no way to catch up. At the Sounders Academy, I needed to be perfect at all times, and this brought pressure. Not playing made me feel useless.

I could no longer tolerate it and decided to leave the Sounders Academy to return to my former team. Not sure about my future with soccer, I decided to play football. My athletic future was a mystery. What once controlled my feelings and my future was now gone. My mindset was gone, and I wanted to run from my past. Maybe sports were not meant for me. I thought the injury was what ended me, but perhaps it was my mind.

I locked this hatred for soccer inside me for a while. It became my enemy, and I blamed it for all my issues. I was blinded to the real enemy, though, my thoughts. Being an overthinker, my thoughts flow constantly at all times. Whether good or bad, they always dictate my emotions. During this time, the thoughts were especially dark. My confidence and happiness came from my performance, and being unable to play tore me down. I finally realized what my issue was and addressed it. I flipped my mindset and calmed my thoughts. I unlocked my hatred for soccer and let it go. Over time, I discovered more about myself, and happiness seeped back in. So did my love for soccer.

I felt like my soccer dream was not over and wanted to try out for the number-one club team in the nation. Why would I do this? I left Sounders Academy and was now diving back into something just as intense. I was prepared this time. I wouldn’t let my mistakes on the field linger with me, and I would keep a positive mindset. One year later, I won a national championship, committed to Division 1 at Oregon State, and am thriving on the field.

I learned that I am more than the sport.

I branched out to other activities. I started going to the gym, spending more time with friends, and focusing on academics. This helped me regain my love for the game and play more healthily, no longer letting my performance dictate my happiness. While I still get down on myself after mistakes. I’ve learned to reflect, learn, and forget, not letting my negative thoughts dig me into a deeper hole.

In America, we can reflect on this story. Mental struggles can hold us back, and we sometimes lose sight of ourselves. We must keep our identity and rebuild ourselves through our failures. There is a community for everyone, and sometimes the one we’re in isn’t always right.

I realized I am more than a game, and through rediscovery, I found where I am the happiest.

© Henry. All rights reserved. If you are interested in quoting this story, contact the national team and we can put you in touch with the author’s teacher.