You Inspired Me

Over the last few years playing abroad after a player’s time at Duke has become a normality. This is amazing. The coaches and staff have created a professional environment that has become successful and life shaping. I encourage people, including myself to celebrate the courage these woman possess to make this decision. We should celebrate the boldness the players have to move abroad to chase their dream. Most importantly, we need to remind them of their courage. 

This is something that I myself did not understand until I moved to Dublin to play. It is hard to “get” these sentiments unless you are the situation. I had close friends play abroad, but I could not understand more than a glimpse of what they experienced until I did it myself. I encourage all of us to value the courage it takes to move abroad. On the outside it seems glamorous, maybe posh and definitely adventurous. It seems like you should have no real care in the world than to play, train and sleep. We see the social media posts of cool adventures, the pictures on the pitch and more.  But, we often don’t see behind the scenes of the everyday life. It’s hard. It can be lonely. 

But, I often pinch myself to really make sure I am not dreaming because I am living a dream. But, it is also one of the more difficult experiences that I have put myself in. After several weeks of being abroad I told a friend I thought I wanted to come home. I called some of my family crying. I called a mentor at 2:00am. I couldn’t sleep. I wasn’t homesick but I was beginning to realize how hard this decision and adventure was. My friend told me to give it 60 days. It would improve. That encouragement helped keep me going.

I had stressful experiences with my visa - to the extend that I was not sure how I would be paid. I was thousands of miles away from anyone who remotely knew more about me than my first and last name. I had the fear of losing touch with friends in America. Everything was new and I wasn’t sure what I was doing. 

There was something that I completely missed until my coach and the family that I lived with began to encourage me. 

I was courageous. 

They told me numerous times how they were impressed that I had put myself into a difficult situation by moving away from all I had ever known. I not only moved there but I stayed there. I didn’t realize this about myself. I didn’t realize the courage. Random people I met were often astonished that I had no family or friends that I moved to Ireland with. I hadn’t even thought of that. I kind of thought… of course I moved here on my own. 

Sometimes we don’t see the courage in ourselves. People are put in our lives to encourage us about things we cannot see.  Many players before me at Duke had done this same thing so I thought it was normal. But, it’s not. I gained a new respect for those women. They are inspiring. They are anomalies. They are trailblazers and they changed my life for the better. They gave me a goal to strive for. If anyone of them is reading this I would like to say thank you. You inspired me and taught me to take risk and pursue my passion. You were courageous.  Because of you I believed I could pursue a dream. 

A few lines ago I wrote that moving abroad was one of the more difficult positions I have put myself into. But, I did not finish that thought completely. These last several months have brought many of the most difficult and lonely experiences I have been in, BUT I would not change it for the world. I am living a dream and learning more about my passions.

Although, I am no longer playing soccer, I am still living abroad. I am starting a new stage in my life and if I had not taken the leap abroad with soccer I would not have learned many of these lessons. I am now encountering new emotions from deciding not to compete in my sport. I have played the game since I was 3 or 4 years old. There are new psychological and physical challenges to encounter.

I am grateful for everyone I have met while living in Ireland - my teammates, coaches, coworkers and friends. They have helped me change for the better. They welcomed me in and encouraged me. I have learned to lean into difficult situations. I have learned about different cultures of the world, something I would not have been able to do if I had stayed in my comfort zone. I have learned to be scrappy and resourceful. Most importantly, I am learning to be content where I am and thankful for what I used to take for granted. I am thankful for a roof over my head, clothes on my back and food on my table. 

All this is to say is that if you are playing or living abroad I see you. You are courageous and amazing. Keep going. You are inspiring someone whom you may never meet. 

My 2cents: New situations make us uncomfortable. These situations shape us and make us grateful people. 

Thanks for reading :)