I have been a soccer captain for the past eight years on my comp team and a captain on the San Lorenzo Valley varsity soccer team these past two years. Some of my main takeaways from this role are effective communication and collaboration. In life, you are not always going to see eye to eye with everyone or even get along with everyone. But that does not mean that you don’t still have to work together. In life beyond the soccer field, you will be in situations where you have to work with or engage with people. You don’t always agree, but when you try, you can always find some common ground. To be successful on the field there needs to be constant, communication and collaboration. And when you are in a leadership role, people are looking to you for support and instruction. If there is not constant communication on the field, there’s no chance of success. I have learned that to be a good leader you need to communicate and collaborate with others. Whether it’s team bonding or talking strategy for games, communication and collaboration, are the most important factors of the game. A major part of being a captain is leading by example, always hustling, always being early to practice and games, always preparing mentally and physically to make sure that you are setting an example and standard for the rest of the team. Practicing every day and playing all year round causes you to be tired and not always want to show up for practice. But it is a commitment, and it is something that you have to follow through. Through being a Captain, I have learned to show empathy and kindness to those who don’t always show up or don’t always have the best attitude. When I see that someone is struggling or having a hard day, it’s my job to reach out and see what’s going on. Even if they have a bad attitude or we have a disagreement, the team is only strong if it is unified. If I see that someone needs help, I will always do my best to try to make things easier. Whether they are struggling on the field or in school I will always advocate for my teammates, even if we aren’t friends because its about the team and being a leader that people can rely on and trust. I will always do everything in my power to put the best version of myself on that field to encourage my teammates when they are feeling down, communicate with them about what they could be doing better and actively listening to them when they tell me how I can improve to make things easier for them. From the skills I have learned from my time as an athlete, I will continue to use effective communication and collaboration to actively listen, demonstrate empathy and kindness, and advocate for and support others. Above all soccer has taught me true unwavering friendship, I have made the most important relationships I have on that field. I will cherish those friendships forever. The relationship of teammates is stronger than the bonds of friendship. We win and lose together but we fight for one another no matter the score.