Grade 7 student Salomé R. from Portugal admits her experiences in athletics largely shaped her approaches to teamwork, challenges, and helped her grow as a person. Currently she plays football both as a CCA here at AISB and at a club called “International Juniors”.
What follows is her story, in her own words:
I got into [football] because it’s a very popular sport where I’m from. Since I was little, I went to the park, and everyone was playing football, and I got into it there. When I moved to Romania, I saw that it was also a very popular sport here. So I saw other people doing it and then I started at a club and now I still play it.
I think last year I was really proud of how I made the school team and how I was, I think, a big part of it, and this year how we got second place at SCIS. I think it was a really proud moment that was really fun for me.
In the beginning it was kind of hard because I was not used to having to really balance school, club football, and normal CCAs, both sports and other activities. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve managed a schedule where I have time for football or other sports and also for studying.
I got a minor injury when I pulled my calf muscle right before a tournament and I was kind of scared I wasn’t going to be able to play. But I got through it and I still was able to play and still performed pretty well. So that was an important moment that stuck out to me.
I think it’s grown my sense of teamwork and how I, in a way, treat other people or have known other people. And I think as a learner it has also improved my sense of hard work because I know what it’s like to work hard for something that’s not just brain-wise but also technical-wise.
Thank you for sharing such an interesting story, very inspiring!