Obi Ifediba '20 Recruiting Profile

    As a five year old, kicking rocks, bottles, pinecones, and whatever fell into my path was my sport. Slowly, these trails led to their final destination: a ball. No destination has made as deep an impact on my life than finding that ball. From there, developing my craft became more than a sport, more than a passion. Playing soccer by myself in my front yard is a safe haven like no other. There, there is nothing but peace, passion, and a ball. 

    I remember the early Saturday mornings with my dad. I'd don my Chelsea kit, watch a host of EPL soccer throughout the morning, and practice whatever particular skill Didier Drogba had chosen to display for the week. Understanding the way these teams of players moved the ball in such a unified manner in order to score goals naturally urged me to want to play for a team.

    Joining a team was slightly less natural as I would have liked. Kindergarten naptime had just ended, meaning that it was time to dismiss from school. I joined a few of my "recess buddies" to head to our carpool seats. Unexpectedly, they parted from me, heading in a direction I'd never seen before. Curious as to where they were going, I asked, "We're going to soccer practice." My heart raced. "Can I come?" I asked. Cheerfully, my friends invited me to explore the soccer field with them. I played in their practice, put on my first pair of soccer cleats,  and most importantly joined my first soccer team.

    In playing soccer for a large majority of my life to this point, I have pinpointed one passion: scoring goals. Hearing my name ring throughout the crowd gave me a feeling similar to a composer hearing an applaud for a wonderful symphony. From 4-goal games to goal droughts, my focus stayed on putting the ball in the back of the net. From U6 through U18, scoring goals has not only given me a rush of emotions but continues to be a reminder of those afternoons by myself in my front yard, a continuance of doing what I love. Leading into my high school years, it became apparent to me that scoring goals took even more outside effort. As a ninth grader, competition on a varsity team gave me a new frame of mind about my sport. 

    As I see it, soccer and the classroom go hand-in-hand. For as long as I've played soccer, I've also stayed active in my academic endeavors. I've excelled in numerous academic competitions such as the Geography Bee and Alabama State Science Olympiad. Staying competitive in the classroom  raises my standards for myself and my teachers' standards for me. This, in turn, makes me a very driven student. Attested to by my teachers and fellow students, I can proudly say that I am a leader who is looked to by other students who are in need of help.

    My ninth and tenth grade high school varsity soccer seasons shaped me as a player and a person. These experiences sparked new habits in my daily life such as nutrition, sleep, and time management. This level of competition made me aware of the standards that are held in order to reach the collegiate level. Thriving in this competitive environment is what drives me to continue moving towards my goal of playing collegiate soccer. I fully believe that the sport of soccer is shaping me as the man I want to be in the future and is allowing me to become a role model to all of the kids who are now putting on their first pair of soccer cleats and joining their first team.

    All in all, my soccer journey has taken me many places, taught me many lessons, and allowed me to meet the many wonderful people that I call role models today. Now, together with my coaches, parents, and school administrators, I work to take my soccer career to the next level to strive for my goal of pursuing high academics and feed my drive for the game of soccer.