Leadership by Natalie

Leadership by Natalie - December 2016 Scholarship Essay

Scholarship Essay
On all sports teams there is a leader, in football it’s the quarterback, for basketball it’s the point guard, and I have the pleasure of being a goalkeeper on the soccer field. I consider being a goalkeeper a blessing and a curse. I have the opportunity of being the hero. Very game I put the fate of the team on my back, if I play amazing we can’t lose but if I play bad then everybody looks to me, the pressure is overwhelming at times. That is the curse of being a goalkeeper you can’t escape the pressure it will always be present. The blessing of being a goalkeeper is being the hero. There is no feeling that compares to having an amazing game and your teammates being so happy and proud of you. Being a goalie you lead from the back you see everything on the field you have to direct and shift your players as the game progresses.
Even though every game I go into I try my absolute best, I put my body on the line to save a shot, I have learned that even when you play your best you don’t always get the outcome you want. In high school soccer we play against power house programs and at Cherry Hill west we are still growing and developing our skills. Every game I would get 25 shots on me I would save 20 of them but 5 still went in, at first that always bothered disappointed me but as I grew and matured as a person and a player I’ve realized that I am doing everything I possibly can. And I have to keep motivating myself and my team to keep playing with passion.
The leadership skills I’ve acquired from soccer are so crucial because it carries over to other aspects of my life, like work. Even though I juggle a full time soccer schedule and school work, I have a part time job at Wendy’s. It’s not very glamorous but the experience I receive from it is priceless. I work with a very diverse range of people and personalities which keeps it interesting. Working helps improve my teamwork skills and as a leader because you have to motivate your coworkers and you also can’t be selfish, I make sure my job is finished by the end of my shift because if it isn’t the person who works after you has to pick up your slack and that’s not fair to them. I have learned to work hard. Ot only for myself but also for others.
By Natalie Eberhardt