Dear Soccer,

You were my first love. For most of my life, it was just about you and me. You were the thing that I could always count on and I poured my heart into you. I fell in love with the techniques and tactics of the beautiful game. For as long as I can remember, I dreamed of playing college soccer. I would go to every Santa Clara University women's soccer game with my dad, imagining myself scoring goals and celebrating with my future best friends. If someone would have told me then the places you would take me, I wouldn't have believed them.

Over the years, we went through some trying times. Two ACL tears in two years had me questioning whether I might lose you forever. The pain and frustration of those times made me stronger and more determined than ever. Knowing I was already late in the recruiting process, I did my best to push away doubts and worked tirelessly towards my dream.

As a California girl, and almost on a whim, I reached out to Boston University as one of just a couple of East Coast schools. My heart sank a few days later when I received a letter back from Coach Knight thanking me for my interest, but let me know that the recruiting class was full. Then, I was shocked when I heard from Coach Brown. She saw me play at the San Diego ECNL event and was hoping I could visit the campus and meet the coaches. Later, after watching me play, Coach Feldman called me for the first time. She told me I reminded her of one of their current senior forwards, Jenna Fischer, No. 12. Coach Feldman decided to take a chance on me, something for which I am eternally grateful. Scared to leave home but excited for the opportunity I had worked so hard for, I decided to leave California and start a new life in Boston. I remember receiving an email from Coach, telling me that my jersey number would be No. 12, just like Jenna. I knew that I had big shoes to fill but felt lucky to join a program that believed in me.

Soccer, I have always been in love with you. At BU, I found myself surrounded by people who loved you just as much as I did. Over the years, I fell in love with my teammates and the experiences we shared together. My new family became my motivation in all things, on and off the field. After spending every minute of the past four years with my 2020 class, I have a completely new understanding of friendship. My teammates broke through my shy and quiet exterior and allowed me to reveal my energetic, bubbly, (sometimes really loud) personality. They are my sisters and no matter where life takes us, our friendships will last a lifetime.

To cope with my life without BUWOSOC, I have to keep reminding myself that the memories and friendships never leave us. I'll miss going straight to the locker room after class and sitting on the locker room couch for hours to catch up with everyone before practice, piling 30 girls into one dorm room during preseason because no one wants to leave each other, already hitting our red zone heart rates dancing in the locker room before games, not being able to breathe at the bottom of the dogpile after winning a Patriot League Championship, wearing "Boston No. 12" on my chest as I lived out my dream alongside my favorite people in the world. 

Soccer, while our relationship is changing again, this isn't goodbye. You have given me all I could have ever asked for and so much more. Looking back on our time together, through all the accomplishments and struggles, you were always leading me to where I belonged, Boston. I will always look back on our glory days at Boston University, doing what we love with the people we love.

Thank you to Boston University Women's Soccer, Coach Feldman, coaches past and present, the Department of Athletics, and my teammates throughout the years.

All my love,

Kelly Park // #12