Cecelia (Cece) Peden '18 Recruiting Profile

    I am aware that most people's personal statements include how they have been playing their whole lives, they love soccer, and they aspire to play soccer in college to elongate their childhood dream. I agree with all of those statements, but I was also reminded of my dependence on playing the sport I love to be who I truly am. In April of 2016 I suffered a devastating ACL injury that transformed into an eye-opening experience. While I was unable to play I noticed how much playing soccer affected my life day to day. I was separated from my teammates who I usually spent all of my time with. I was less likely to finish my assignments without having to battle time management. I went to physical therapy for what seems like a whole lifetime. A large part of myself disappeared and I felt like I would never gain back the confidence I once had.  

    Now, nine long months later I have returned to play and I have never appreciated the game more than in this instant. Without soccer, I was a nervous, indecisive, disconsolate girl. I felt so betrayed by the world and by my own body and I converted this anger and misery into hard work and relentlessness to complete my rehab. The Cece Peden I know plays soccer constantly, runs, horseback rides, swims, speaks with confidence, and has a contagious optimism among more components that had vanished the second I became injured. I worked through physical therapy with one goal: to be stronger not only physically, but also mentally by the time I was cleared. I learned discipline, responsibility, and the power of reward throughout my rehab and will carry these lessons with me for the rest of my life. 

    I am once again Cece Peden and I have overcome obstacles that previously would have seemed like the end of the world to me. I am ready to take risks in games, fight for the win against the biggest rival, and be a team player to help others as well as myself to achieve a common goal. My competitiveness never escaped me and I take this sport very seriously. I believe that being on a team involves giving every ounce of drive and effort to your teammates and coaches and hope to fulfill my dream of playing soccer at the collegiate level.