It is crazy how much can change in just twelve months. If you had told me a year ago that I would be wearing an MLS Next badge and traveling across the country to face some of the best youth players in the world, I probably would have laughed. Back then, my world was small, my goals were local, and I was just a kid who loved the game.

My journey started at Hays Youth Soccer Association (HYSA). For anyone who hasn’t been part of a small-town club, it is hard to describe the feeling. It’s more than just a team; it’s a community. Everyone knows your name, the parents all sit together, and there’s a sense of positivity that makes you feel like you can take on the world.

I remember my one-day trial like it was yesterday. I wasn’t sure where I fit in, but by the end of that session, I was placed as the goalkeeper for their Fusion Select Team. That was the moment everything clicked for me. I realized that the space between the posts was where I belonged.

The Foundation at HYSA

At HYSA, I had a coach who changed my life. He was the perfect balance of "tough but caring." He didn't let me get away with anything. If my positioning was off or if I hesitated on a cross, he let me know about it. But he also cared about me as a person. He knew how to push me just far enough to make me better without breaking my spirit.

There is something special about that "small club" environment. Even today, as I play in bigger stadiums and more intense environments, I still miss that feeling. I miss the simplicity of it. We weren't worried about national rankings or scouts; we were just playing for the love of the game and for each other. That year at HYSA gave me the confidence I needed to even think about taking the next step.

The Leap to the National Stage

After a year of growth at HYSA, an opportunity came up that I couldn't ignore. I had the chance to move to AC River and play at the highest level for my age group on a national platform. We’re talking about the MLS Next Homegrown Division.

Walking into that environment was a complete culture shock. I remember the first time I put on the jersey and saw that MLS Next badge on my sleeve. It was a feeling I can’t even put into words: a mix of pride, excitement, and a little bit of "Is this actually happening?" I felt like I had finally "made it."

But reality has a way of slapping you hard when you least expect it.

I thought I was ready. I wanted to be ready. But the jump from a local select team to a national traveling team is a chasm. Suddenly, I wasn't just playing against kids from the next town over. I was playing against the elite: kids who were my age but looked like grown men. They were bigger, faster, and had years of high-level experience that I simply didn't have yet.

The Harsh Reality Check

The first few months at AC River were a rollercoaster of emotions. There were moments of inspiration, where I would make a massive save and feel like I belonged. But those moments were often followed by games or practices where I felt completely out of my league.

As a goalkeeper, there is nowhere to hide. If you make a mistake, it’s on the scoreboard. Playing at that level meant that every mistake was magnified. The strikers were clinical. If I was even an inch out of position, they would find the corner. If I hesitated for a split second on a breakaway, the ball was in the back of the net.

I remember many nights leaving practice absolutely exhausted: not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. I’d sit in the car with tears in my eyes, feeling completely unmotivated. I questioned if I was good enough. I questioned if I had made a mistake by leaving the comfort of HYSA. It was intimidating to stand in goal and see a striker charging at you who was faster than anyone you'd ever faced.

But through the tears, there was a tiny voice in my head that wouldn't shut up. It kept saying, "I want to belong here." That desire to prove I could compete with the best is what kept me going. I didn't want to go back to being a "big fish in a small pond." I wanted to become a big fish in the ocean.

Finding My Rhythm at SGA

After the season at AC River, I knew I needed a place that would focus intensely on my development. That’s when I started at SGA (Sonny G. Academy).

At SGA, the atmosphere is different. It’s intense, but the focus is entirely on elevating my skills to match my ambitions. Every session is a test. We work on the technical details that I didn't even know existed a year ago: micro-adjustments in my footwork, the way I distribute the ball, and my communication with the defense.

The transition wasn't immediate, but slowly, the pieces started falling into place. My reflexes got quicker. My confidence in the air improved. I started commanding my box instead of just reacting to what was happening.

The best feeling in the world isn't actually winning a game: it’s the recognition of your hard work. Recently, I’ve had parents and former teammates from my earlier days come up to me and tell me they can’t believe how much I’ve developed in such a short time. Hearing that from people who saw where I started is the ultimate validation. It reminds me that the nights of tears and the "harsh reality slaps" were actually just growing pains.

The Journey is Just Getting Started

Looking back on this past year, I realized that growth doesn't happen in your comfort zone. If I had stayed at my small-town club, I would still be happy, and I would still be a good goalkeeper. But I wouldn't be the player I am today.

Moving to the national stage forced me to look at my weaknesses. It forced me to face my fears and deal with the fact that I wasn't the best player on the field anymore. That realization is painful, but it's also the greatest motivator in the world.

To any other player sitting in a small town right now, dreaming of the big stage: do it. Take the leap. But be prepared for the reality of it. It’s going to be hard. You’re going to feel like you don't belong sometimes. You might even cry in the car after practice. But if you want it bad enough, those challenges are just the fuel you need to get to the next level.

I’m 2011-born, which means I still have a long way to go. I’m still learning every single day. The badge on my arm is great, but the work I put in when nobody is watching is what actually matters. My time at HYSA gave me the heart, AC River gave me the perspective, and SGA is giving me the tools.

The journey is just getting started, and I can’t wait to see where the next year takes me. Keep grinding, keep diving, and never let a "harsh reality" stop you from chasing the dream.

See you on the pitch.