The Beautiful Game
As the great Ronaldinho said, “ I learned all about life with a ball at my feet.” His words resonate. For 25 + years I learned about life and the world around me through soccer. The game introduced me to some of the most interesting people around the world, taught me how to be a true competitor, and gave me style, class, and grace. Soccer has been the abundant harvest in my life that keeps on giving.
My journey with soccer began at the age of 4. I used to watch my father and uncles play soccer in the park together in an adult league. I was so impressed by the way they moved and the elegance of the game that I knew this was a sport I had to be apart of. I quit my lovely dance classes and got whisked away by the beautiful game. My father was one of my first soccer coaches and from there I soared. I constantly elevated my game. I was patient with it and knew that I would succeed in all my dreams and aspirations. In my sophomore year of High School I decided that I wanted to play for a top 10-college division 1 in the United States. I made a goal and I followed all the little steps on making that goal achievable. I would wake up at 6am before school and train for soccer. I created my own drills and skill sets to focus on and eventually I got a coach who helped me sharpen up on specific areas of my game and I was set. Late in my Senior year of high school, I committed to Santa Clara University, a top 10 division 1 program. Although the journey was long, I never lost faith in the process. At Santa Clara University, I was surrounded by fierce competitors, which caused me only to grow. My game elevated each day at practice and during the off-season. After my sophomore year I transferred to DePaul University where my game continued to elevate. In that program, I was the glue that helped the team go undefeated and win the Big East Championship in my final season with them.
Since my time playing soccer has taken a back seat, I have been pursuing my other interest in medicine. While playing soccer, I suffered two major ACL tears. Although I had been steady on the track to pursue medicine those injuries further propelled me along my journey to becoming a doctor. Not only did soccer give me the necessary tools to succeed in medicine, but it provided me with the discipline and patience to see it through even when things became challenging. In the face of adversity with medicine, I would always rise up, because it was ingrained and instilled in me through the game of soccer and my faith in God.
As I have been watching from afar the work Trevor McIntosh has been doing with the Grenada Sports & Wellbeing Foundation, I am both humbled and impressed. As a woman of Grenadian heritage, who has seen and been affected by the struggles of Grenadian youths, I firmly believe in the power of sports to help change and alter the course of a young child’s life. For the young men and women of Grenada sports can be there outlet, saving grace, and route for a better future and hope. I was inspired and impressed by Judy McIntosh’s story. This talented young lady has truly carved out her own path in football winning the female footballer of the year in Grenada in addition to the personality of the year. To win both, speaks volumes. This young lady has worked tirelessly on an off the field to make something of herself, despite all of the adversity and challenges she has faced. Women and men like her deserve to be celebrated and deserve more opportunities that the Grenada Sports & Wellbeing Foundation provide. It has truly been a positive change in Grenadian society and I hope that it is here to stay.
“I learned everything about life with a ball between my feet,” said Ronaldinho, and nothing has been more true for me than that. From college soccer, to medicine, and beginning to invest more time and energy into the Grenada Sports & Wellbeing Foundation. Soccer has truly been the abundant harvest in my life that keeps on giving.