One morning during my internship as a medical assistant at a rheumatology clinic, I was instructed to take the vitals of a girl who was a few years younger than me. This was out of the ordinary, as I was used to only seeing elderly patients visit the facility. After reporting the information to the physician, Dr. Kempf spoke to the girl and determined a diagnosis. The girl had a severe case of Achilles tendinitis which was preventing her from competing on her high school soccer team. While I only performed my minimal duties as an intern, I was able to witness in the upcoming weeks her treatment and recovery, but most of all, her excitement about being able to once again play the sport that she loved. I truly believe that this rewarding moment stems from my own experience on the soccer field. Throughout the last 14 years, soccer taught me many lessons: to celebrate teamwork and determination after big victories, but also to hold each other accountable for mistakes. It taught me discipline, particularly when going to physical therapy after breaking my shin, and I even gained a healthy outlet for me to cope with stress. Most importantly to me, however, is that now that I’m older, I’ve had the opportunity to share my passion with young girls in my community. Since 2021, my team has hosted Pieper High School’s Annual Kids Camp: a week-long and entirely student-led soccer clinic for kids ages 5 to 14, where my teammates and I become the coaches. By giving back to my community, I’ve had the opportunity to spread the enthusiasm I felt while playing soccer as a young girl, and it’s truly a full-circle moment helping future generations of soccer players discover their passion for a sport that I love. I hope that by providing a welcoming space for these kids to explore their interests, they will grow up to be just as eager to connect with others and share what brings them happiness. Through my volunteering experiences that have been facilitated by playing this sport, I have learned the importance of mentorship and the impact it can have on young kids. For myself, being a leader means taking responsibility and guiding others towards a better future, and I have used this mindset continuously in the non-athletic aspects of my life. This mindset was what led me to run for President of my high school’s HOSA chapter during its founding year, and since starting that club, its members and I have become leaders in the professional environment. HOSA gave me the opportunity to receive a CCMA and EKG Technician certification and apply that knowledge in local private medical offices, like the rheumatology clinic, which I intend to use to further my career. Ultimately, my experiences as both a soccer player and coach honed my leadership skills which I will continue to use in higher education and beyond.