Perseverence
wow. never imagined it would be this hard to chase my dream of playing professional soccer. i've been jobless since last june (last day of school); but without income since september. coaching soccer and working for SVU more and more has helped ease things a bit, but the bills are piling up and things are getting tight.
just wasn't expecting it to be this hard. never had to "technically" go out and find a job before. all previous jobs were very informal interviews, if there was even an interview at all. even my teaching job at Page, i knew so many people in the process, it was natural and comfortable and "easy." now i'm out in the "real world" looking for a job without any networking connections to ease the way for me.
there have been a few people who have really stepped up big-time in helping me out so far... whether emotionally, financially, or by making me food :) to you, i am so grateful! i will never be able to repay you for your kindness and generosity.
not gonna lie, things are very tight right now. and on top of it all, i've gotta decide what i'm doing after march 31, when my lease runs out in VA. do i stay? do i go to PA? do i play soccer this summer? do i coach at summer camps instead all summer? do i find a teaching job for the fall/spring?
to make things harder, i'm really, really enjoying my time within the coaching realm of things in VA. i LOVE the club. i'm just beginning to train the jmu gk's, which is what i primarily want to do-- train gk's. but i REALLY miss my family and friends up in PA.
Lord, give me guidance, discernment, wisdom and direction...
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Friday, December 25, 2009
Tryouts in Philly
A day or two after my MRI results, Katie and I learned of the tryouts in Philly beginning of December. Of course, we signed up and went.
Going into the first session, I was nervous-- not for how well I'd do, but as to whether my knee would be an issue. After about 5-10 mins, I realized I had nothing to worry about... the knee was pain-free and moving beautifully! As the two days went on, I gained more and more confidence and was excited to be out playing again!
There were 9 goalkeepers there, making the competition quite stiff. Only thing I could tell, was that my touch was slightly off and I was sitting on my heels a little more than normal... due to my 2.5 month knee injury. No worries though, it was so much fun!!
Let me just say that it was the most organized and fun tryout, or practice, or summer soccer camp that I've ever been a part of! Variety, challenging, engaging, and invigorating. Each and every one of the Philly Independence staff was friendly, curteous, honest and open.
Didn't get the call-back for tryouts in January, but couldn't really expect much having not been at 100% total competition level.
I'll be working up to Freedom's tryouts in February!
Going into the first session, I was nervous-- not for how well I'd do, but as to whether my knee would be an issue. After about 5-10 mins, I realized I had nothing to worry about... the knee was pain-free and moving beautifully! As the two days went on, I gained more and more confidence and was excited to be out playing again!
There were 9 goalkeepers there, making the competition quite stiff. Only thing I could tell, was that my touch was slightly off and I was sitting on my heels a little more than normal... due to my 2.5 month knee injury. No worries though, it was so much fun!!
Let me just say that it was the most organized and fun tryout, or practice, or summer soccer camp that I've ever been a part of! Variety, challenging, engaging, and invigorating. Each and every one of the Philly Independence staff was friendly, curteous, honest and open.
Didn't get the call-back for tryouts in January, but couldn't really expect much having not been at 100% total competition level.
I'll be working up to Freedom's tryouts in February!
MRI results
MRI results came back November 20th. GREAT news!! Come to find out, I tore my PCL (posterior cruciate ligament), which does the exact opposite of the ACL. If you're gonna tear one of them, the PCL is the one to tear (as athletes are very aware).
So, my options at that time were to play with a knee brace or get surgery. Knee brace = I can play! Surgery = set back at least 6 months.
I opted for the knee brace.... Not enough time to get one before tryouts in Philly beginning of December, so went to tryouts hoping the knee was strong enough and showed well...
So, my options at that time were to play with a knee brace or get surgery. Knee brace = I can play! Surgery = set back at least 6 months.
I opted for the knee brace.... Not enough time to get one before tryouts in Philly beginning of December, so went to tryouts hoping the knee was strong enough and showed well...
Monday, November 9, 2009
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Life moves on...
It's been a few weeks since I last wrote from Florida. I'm not gonna lie...it's been a rough, low, and depressing two weeks since. Not being able to run or participate in practices at EMU or with my U18 girls has been rough.
On top of all that, I haven't been able to substitute yet, so with worries about how the bills will be paid and with so much time on my hands, it's been rough. And my #1 strategy for relieving stress is to go out and kick the soccer ball really hard many times, or to simply go out and play soccer. Oh wait, can't do it. Grr.
So, I finally got myself in gear and started concentrating on what I can do. I can get my cardio from the stationary bike and/or elliptical, and I can still do all but 1-2 lifting machines. So, I finally got back at this past Wed. and it felt so good to be able to lift and workout again. It's still weird to just go straight into my workout without a few laps around the track, but since I can't run or do anything jarring on my right knee, I have to improvise a little.
My Dr's appt isn't for another 2.5 weeks, so I'm just going to keep working out and building up my muscle and not worry about the knee for now. I'll go to my Dr's appt and see what his diagnosis may be, and then I'll take it a step at a time. No use worrying now about possibilities that might not even happen.
Though 99% of the time I listen to it, Christian music and my journey of reading through the Bible (in roughly a year-ish) have helped me through this rough time tremendously. Songs of hope, comfort and just getting me to think about things with a different perspective--God's perspective--have been good.
Currently, I'm almost through 2 Samuel, so I've been following the life of King David. Just learning about how he gives every question, every decision, and every thought to God for His solution or "plan of action" helps me to do the same. I'm just glad I'm not going to war every few years ; )
Favorite songs right now:
"City on Our Knees" Toby Mac
"While I'm Waiting" John Waller
"Born Again" Third Day
"Lifesong" Casting Crowns
"Until the Whole World Hears" Casting Crowns
On top of all that, I haven't been able to substitute yet, so with worries about how the bills will be paid and with so much time on my hands, it's been rough. And my #1 strategy for relieving stress is to go out and kick the soccer ball really hard many times, or to simply go out and play soccer. Oh wait, can't do it. Grr.
So, I finally got myself in gear and started concentrating on what I can do. I can get my cardio from the stationary bike and/or elliptical, and I can still do all but 1-2 lifting machines. So, I finally got back at this past Wed. and it felt so good to be able to lift and workout again. It's still weird to just go straight into my workout without a few laps around the track, but since I can't run or do anything jarring on my right knee, I have to improvise a little.
My Dr's appt isn't for another 2.5 weeks, so I'm just going to keep working out and building up my muscle and not worry about the knee for now. I'll go to my Dr's appt and see what his diagnosis may be, and then I'll take it a step at a time. No use worrying now about possibilities that might not even happen.
Though 99% of the time I listen to it, Christian music and my journey of reading through the Bible (in roughly a year-ish) have helped me through this rough time tremendously. Songs of hope, comfort and just getting me to think about things with a different perspective--God's perspective--have been good.
Currently, I'm almost through 2 Samuel, so I've been following the life of King David. Just learning about how he gives every question, every decision, and every thought to God for His solution or "plan of action" helps me to do the same. I'm just glad I'm not going to war every few years ; )
Favorite songs right now:
"City on Our Knees" Toby Mac
"While I'm Waiting" John Waller
"Born Again" Third Day
"Lifesong" Casting Crowns
"Until the Whole World Hears" Casting Crowns
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)