Jessica Udovich, a teammate and friend of mine, recently tore her ACL for the third time. After encountering the most difficult circumstances, Jess continues to embody resilience and strength (both in and out of the weight room). At a recent practice, Lesle encouraged the team to “follow Jessica’s lead,” as she faces her surgery and rehabilitation process. That’s what I’ve been doing for the past three years and after I tore my ACL this spring. I’ve been following the lead of incredible teammates, including Jess, who I was honored to share the field with.
I’ve been teammates with some of the most passionate, hardworking, and sincere individuals. After observing some of the examples set by Huskies before me, I took my head out of my textbooks (slightly) and asked myself how I could be a better leader in the classroom, on the team and in my community. By stepping outside of my comfort zone, I discovered my passion for teaching, environmental conservation, and, recently, spikeball. I also confirmed my calling to serve others by pursuing a career in medicine. This is all thanks to the program that is UW women’s soccer: a program that is focused on developing us as people, not just athletes.
This spring, we had the opportunity to travel to Japan as a team. The trip offered plenty of learning experiences and historical perspective. Arigato. Every season, we read a book as a team, discuss what we learned, and apply it to our lives. I will carry on this mindset of continual betterment for the rest of my life.