Dear Soccer - Shannon Keefe
March 30, 2020 | Women's Soccer
Dear Soccer,
Enough time has passed that I am now okay with writing this letter to you. In the back of my mind, I always knew our time together would eventually come to an end, but it still doesn't seem real. It's crazy how one thing can impact your life so much for so long, and then all of the sudden it ends.
I got into soccer at a very young age, did the whole "junior kickers" soccer league with almost every other four-year-old in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. I remember waking up every Saturday morning extra early because I finally got to play in a real game, not just practice. Little did I know that it was the start of a journey that would take me on an emotional rollercoaster.
Fourteen year later, I committed to play at Boston University. I decided on BU because of the team culture, academics, competitive athletics, and overall family vibe that I got from not only the soccer team, but the athletic department as a whole. I was living out my dream of playing DI soccer for an amazing school in city centered around sports—it doesn't get much better than that.
Playing a collegiate sport is next-level, everyone knows that. But at BU, I was held to an extremely high standard—on and off the field. I was taught the value of commitment and dedication, staying locked in for the duration of practice, whether that be 60 minutes or 120. I learned what it's like to fail, get back up again, and how to give 110% even when the odds are against you. I figured out how to handle pressure and control my emotions. Everyone is always watching, and how you handle situations affects your teammates in ways you may not realize. Most importantly, I learned that off-field relationships are just as, if not more important than on-field relationships.
I met my best friends through soccer. My BU teammates have gotten me through times when I thought I couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel. They motivated me to do one more sprint, one more rep or move my feet a little bit faster. They pushed me to reach my full potential as a soccer player and as a person. They were always there when I needed advice, willing to help me with my schoolwork, or even if I needed to borrow an outfit. Each and every single one of my teammates over the last four years positively impacted my life in a unique way, and I will never be able to thank them enough.
So, thank you BU soccer for the ride of my life. Thank you for giving me coaches that would do anything to see me succeed. Thank you for giving me teammates that I am lucky enough to call sisters. Thank you for giving me friends and coaches on other teams and staff that supported me along the way. Thank you for all the difficult practices, conditioning drills, and hard lifts. Thank you for all the wins, celebrations, and memories that I will never forget. Thank you for all the ups, all the downs, and everything in between. Thank you for showing me what it's like to be a part of something that is bigger than myself. Thank you for making me a better person.
I am working on coming to terms that this chapter of my life is officially closed, but I am excited for what's to come. This is my goodbye to soccer—it's time for my next adventure.
BUWOSOC forever,
Shannon Keefe // #20
Enough time has passed that I am now okay with writing this letter to you. In the back of my mind, I always knew our time together would eventually come to an end, but it still doesn't seem real. It's crazy how one thing can impact your life so much for so long, and then all of the sudden it ends.
I got into soccer at a very young age, did the whole "junior kickers" soccer league with almost every other four-year-old in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. I remember waking up every Saturday morning extra early because I finally got to play in a real game, not just practice. Little did I know that it was the start of a journey that would take me on an emotional rollercoaster.
Fourteen year later, I committed to play at Boston University. I decided on BU because of the team culture, academics, competitive athletics, and overall family vibe that I got from not only the soccer team, but the athletic department as a whole. I was living out my dream of playing DI soccer for an amazing school in city centered around sports—it doesn't get much better than that.
Playing a collegiate sport is next-level, everyone knows that. But at BU, I was held to an extremely high standard—on and off the field. I was taught the value of commitment and dedication, staying locked in for the duration of practice, whether that be 60 minutes or 120. I learned what it's like to fail, get back up again, and how to give 110% even when the odds are against you. I figured out how to handle pressure and control my emotions. Everyone is always watching, and how you handle situations affects your teammates in ways you may not realize. Most importantly, I learned that off-field relationships are just as, if not more important than on-field relationships.
I met my best friends through soccer. My BU teammates have gotten me through times when I thought I couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel. They motivated me to do one more sprint, one more rep or move my feet a little bit faster. They pushed me to reach my full potential as a soccer player and as a person. They were always there when I needed advice, willing to help me with my schoolwork, or even if I needed to borrow an outfit. Each and every single one of my teammates over the last four years positively impacted my life in a unique way, and I will never be able to thank them enough.
So, thank you BU soccer for the ride of my life. Thank you for giving me coaches that would do anything to see me succeed. Thank you for giving me teammates that I am lucky enough to call sisters. Thank you for giving me friends and coaches on other teams and staff that supported me along the way. Thank you for all the difficult practices, conditioning drills, and hard lifts. Thank you for all the wins, celebrations, and memories that I will never forget. Thank you for all the ups, all the downs, and everything in between. Thank you for showing me what it's like to be a part of something that is bigger than myself. Thank you for making me a better person.
I am working on coming to terms that this chapter of my life is officially closed, but I am excited for what's to come. This is my goodbye to soccer—it's time for my next adventure.
BUWOSOC forever,
Shannon Keefe // #20
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