I grew up playing soccer in the Cowichan Valley; first playing when I was about 8 with my younger brother’s team and finally joining a team when I was 11. My brother’s coach encouraged me to find a team of my own to play with so that I could play more than just during practices. After that I was hooked, playing all through public school through CVSA and Frances Kelsey Secondary School, and refereeing with CVSA.
After graduating I joined the developing women’s team in the valley, playing with the strong committed group of women through Div. 3 up to Div. 1. We worked our way up through the divisions, cementing ourselves as a competitive team. In 2015, I retired and have been coaching through CVSA and Tide since, and plan to continue developing as a coach and athlete.
In my opinion, soccer was a huge contributor to my development as a lifelong athlete and love of activity. It set me up for sports as an adult and balancing post-secondary education. The perseverance and patience it takes to develop a strong sense of game and the ability to balance life and sport I believe translates to a positive perspective and capability to overcome obstacles.
