Kick It In Gear - By Nick

“Those that are given much, much is expected.” My Mom was my biggest motivator growing up. She would leave me notes with inspirational quotes on them before my games or big tests in school. We have sayings that we continually repeat to each other when we feel the other needs a reminder of what is important in life. Growing up, the motivation my Mom provided shaped me into the man I am today. I have lived in the same house my entire life in Lake Oswego, Oregon. I was always a quite kid in Elementary school, with no siblings and divorced parents I kept most things to myself. However, that quite nature never held me back. I found my confidence through sports as I became best friends with my youth soccer teammates who I still consider my best friends today.

While I was never the most athletic kid growing up, I still loved sports. In fact I wasn’t considered athletic at all until I became a great cross country runner in middle school as I won the district championships by a full 30 seconds. To me this was a defining moment in my life as I saw the potential I had to succeed and found the true benefits of hard work. From that moment on I knew if I wanted something, the only thing standing in my way was how much I was willing to sacrifice to get it.

“It's easy to dream, but much harder to execute it." - GaryVee

With this knowledge I entered High School with a new found confidence and decided to pursue the sport I loved, soccer. Being one of the fittest people at tryouts I made the varsity team as a freshman and from there I had all of the confidence I needed to be successful. I ended up becoming a four year starter in soccer and track. I was the Associated Student Body Vice-President, Honor Roll, Varsity football kicker who held two school records, won the award for most inspirational athlete, and eventually came to give the graduation speech at my High School in front of 5,000 people.

All of this came from a kid who was quite and shy, never considered an athlete as a kid but one defining moment in my life showed me the value of hard work. That moment plus the inspiration my Mother gave me, and she wasn’t a big sports fan and may have hardly known the rules, but she came to every one of my games I ever played to cheer me on. Anything is possible if you are willing to sacrifice and have a form of inspiration to light that fire within you.

Now I am a senior at Chapman University, about to graduate with a Finance degree and a minor in Leadership. I continue to play soccer and am the captain of my college team. From being a shy kid I joined the biggest philanthropy and fraternity on campus and become the Vice-President of both because my Mom would always tell me the importance to give back to those who need it. I hope to change the world through messages of positivity and optimism that lead people to reach their fullest potential.

Sincerely,

N.R.

Ps: I will succeed.