It has been a long time since I had talked with Josh in any depth. He used to play on my club team until Sophomore year but then he changed team. He changed teams to try to get more exposure to college coaches with a team that traveled to more premier tournaments but he would also receive less playing time. It was interesting to see the different tactics in how people would try to be seen by coaches. I was curious as to see how his recruiting process went since I had not talked to him about it since he switched teams. So, I figured it was a perfect time to ask if I could interview him for my English 101 class at Emory University. He agreed and we proceeded.
I asked him," How did you think soccer would impact the college process for you when you were in high school?" He paused for a few seconds to collect his thoughts, I could tell it meant a lot to him. After all, it was soccer, his love and passion and I completely understood that. He explained his complicated situation and relationship with the recruiting process. He stated by explaining," it was always my number one priority. I wanted to play at the highest level of competition I could. I wanted to go Division 1 at all costs." |
This was not uncommon around me as people were always pushing to play at the highest level, and there is a prestige that comes with playing at that level too. He continued by saying how he was recruited by Washington State University, but there was a catch. First, he would have to attend community college for two years to bring up grades so that he could be brought through admissions because his grades were too low coming out of high school. Josh was fine with that. He said," I don't mind at all. It's a roadblock I guess, but I just want to play Division 1. It's just always been what I wanted." This was not uncommon. I knew many people who neglected their academics in the pursuit for collegiate athletics, thinking that they did not matter at all, when in fact they are nearly just as important. I could tell Josh had mixed emotions about it but mainly it was positive. He was going to achieve his goal, in a roundabout fashion mind you, but never the less he was going to achieve it, and to Josh that was all that mattered. He is currently playing at De Anza Community College and could not be happier. He is pursuing his dream to play Division 1, which for him is all that mattered.
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