Sophie Camplejohn, Grade 11
UWC Pearson
Soccer has always been a huge part of my life. I have been on a pitch since the age of 4, playing soccer for state championship teams, like FC Royale. I made the Varsity team as a freshman at my high school, playing 6 times a week. I also played for SF Elite Academy's 2003 NorCal team. However, the exhausting life of a competitive athlete had finally taken its toll. After many years of debate, I decided to take a break from soccer to explore other passions. By the time I had arrived at Pearson, I couldn't remember the last time I had kicked a soccer ball. Maybe around half a year or so. Despite my incessant need for a break and my growing dislike for the sport, I always loved soccer. It is just when you do something so much, you have a love-hate relationship with it. I remember reading Forward: A Memoir, by Abby Wambach, who is one of the greatest soccer players in the world, scoring 184 goals in her career, and also one of my icons. In her memoir, she discussed her love-hate relationship with soccer too, and wanting to quit to explore other aspects of who she is. There is nothing more validating than hearing someone you idolize struggle with the same problems that you do. In an interview for NPR, with Terry Gross, Abby Wambach even states, "I didn't want to be known just as a soccer player 'cause I knew at some point...that identity would come to an end. And if I stripped that identity away, what then? Who am I then?" Part of the reason I strayed away from making the tough decision to quit is because I felt like soccer was my label. I didn't know who I was without it, and that is a very scary feeling.
So, when I heard of Pearson UWC's traditional Golden Shoe Tournament, I instantly took a liking to their school. Each year, they host a giant soccer tournament between all the houses. Everyone wears their house colors with pride, shouts their chants and cheers at the top of their lungs, and jumps into the arms of their friends as they score the winning goal.
Pearson allowed me to fall in love with my favorite sport again, without the judgment, competition, and utter dedication that it takes to try to make it a career. I remember the first day at Pearson, two second years, Nishijima Keitaro and Aiden Sander approached me, knowing I would be in the same house as them (Japan House) to ask if I played soccer. They were overjoyed at my answer. They explained that Golden Shoe is typically won by the house with the best female players. Each team must play four girls and four guys at all times (including all genders) to make sure there is fair participation. Most girls at Pearson had never played soccer, whereas most guys had. Already, we started discussing plans on how to win the Golden Shoe Trophy. Last year, Japan House had come in a staggering last place. We needed redemption. That same day, I was invited to play a pickup soccer game with some of the second years. I was the only girl playing (until eventually, my good friend, Sarah Lewis, a second-year joined in the game).
I continued to play pickup soccer games with friends almost every weekend for the entire school year. Japan House was consistently considered to have some of the best players in the school. As Golden Shoe approached, we once again hashed out our plans as a team. When game day arrived, we all united in the Japan House Day Room, all wearing yellow and black clothes, our house colors, painting yellow and black stripes on our face, and even wrapping caution tape (yellow and black) around our bodies. We marched down to the basketball court, where the tournament took place, screaming our chants, and bumping 'Black and Yellow' by Wiz Khalifa.
Our hard work paid off. We reached the semi-finals with flying colors. I had played in every game, and, like my fellow teammates, had worked up a sweat. But, I was determined to fight. We were up against MCL House, who were last year's champions. The game ended in a tie. But, only one team could move up to the finals. We went into penalty shots. With goals half the normal size, and on a concrete basketball court, this wasn't normal penalty kicks, making the stakes all the harder and higher. I don't remember the score, but I do remember as our team jumped for joy, when my good friend, Shaznay Waugh, scored the winning goal. We moved on to the finals.
We were up against Calgary House. They were a tough opponent and were in the lead by two goals. There was only one minute left in the game. Everyone was cheering, and everyone was panting and covered in sweat. It was a brutal game. I was dribbling up the field, determined to score a goal. I took my shot, but it was blocked by their defense, ricocheting onto an opponent's head, knocking her to the floor. Unfortunately, she ended up concussed and taken to the emergency room (she is perfectly healthy now). We ended the game early, and Calgary was given the trophy. The trophy mattered to no one at that point, though. It was heartwarming to watch the entire school work together to help our dear friend. I remember sprinting to my room to grab blankets, water, the nurse, or anything that would help. Despite the fear and pain, we all faced for our friend, we were able to work together in harmony, with an eloquent swiftness and grace that was always special to see on campus.
It, of course, was not the ending I wanted. But that is okay, because as the female Golden Shoe leader of Japan house, with my good friend, Mayen Jacob, as the captain, I know we won't let the next win slip through our fingers.
So, when I heard of Pearson UWC's traditional Golden Shoe Tournament, I instantly took a liking to their school. Each year, they host a giant soccer tournament between all the houses. Everyone wears their house colors with pride, shouts their chants and cheers at the top of their lungs, and jumps into the arms of their friends as they score the winning goal.
Pearson allowed me to fall in love with my favorite sport again, without the judgment, competition, and utter dedication that it takes to try to make it a career. I remember the first day at Pearson, two second years, Nishijima Keitaro and Aiden Sander approached me, knowing I would be in the same house as them (Japan House) to ask if I played soccer. They were overjoyed at my answer. They explained that Golden Shoe is typically won by the house with the best female players. Each team must play four girls and four guys at all times (including all genders) to make sure there is fair participation. Most girls at Pearson had never played soccer, whereas most guys had. Already, we started discussing plans on how to win the Golden Shoe Trophy. Last year, Japan House had come in a staggering last place. We needed redemption. That same day, I was invited to play a pickup soccer game with some of the second years. I was the only girl playing (until eventually, my good friend, Sarah Lewis, a second-year joined in the game).
I continued to play pickup soccer games with friends almost every weekend for the entire school year. Japan House was consistently considered to have some of the best players in the school. As Golden Shoe approached, we once again hashed out our plans as a team. When game day arrived, we all united in the Japan House Day Room, all wearing yellow and black clothes, our house colors, painting yellow and black stripes on our face, and even wrapping caution tape (yellow and black) around our bodies. We marched down to the basketball court, where the tournament took place, screaming our chants, and bumping 'Black and Yellow' by Wiz Khalifa.
Our hard work paid off. We reached the semi-finals with flying colors. I had played in every game, and, like my fellow teammates, had worked up a sweat. But, I was determined to fight. We were up against MCL House, who were last year's champions. The game ended in a tie. But, only one team could move up to the finals. We went into penalty shots. With goals half the normal size, and on a concrete basketball court, this wasn't normal penalty kicks, making the stakes all the harder and higher. I don't remember the score, but I do remember as our team jumped for joy, when my good friend, Shaznay Waugh, scored the winning goal. We moved on to the finals.
We were up against Calgary House. They were a tough opponent and were in the lead by two goals. There was only one minute left in the game. Everyone was cheering, and everyone was panting and covered in sweat. It was a brutal game. I was dribbling up the field, determined to score a goal. I took my shot, but it was blocked by their defense, ricocheting onto an opponent's head, knocking her to the floor. Unfortunately, she ended up concussed and taken to the emergency room (she is perfectly healthy now). We ended the game early, and Calgary was given the trophy. The trophy mattered to no one at that point, though. It was heartwarming to watch the entire school work together to help our dear friend. I remember sprinting to my room to grab blankets, water, the nurse, or anything that would help. Despite the fear and pain, we all faced for our friend, we were able to work together in harmony, with an eloquent swiftness and grace that was always special to see on campus.
It, of course, was not the ending I wanted. But that is okay, because as the female Golden Shoe leader of Japan house, with my good friend, Mayen Jacob, as the captain, I know we won't let the next win slip through our fingers.
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