The 2020 Rams Reflect is the fifth in a series of annual collections. Senior captains and representatives of Suffolk teams have been invited to contribute viewpoints based on personal experience from both their senior seasons and full varsity careers at Suffolk.
For a complete listing of past and present Rams’ Reflections, click here.
Emerson Wildes | Hometown: Dudley, Mass. | Pre-Law
When I first came to Suffolk, it was nothing like I expected. Coming from a small town, the city way of life was foreign to me. I was nervous I wasn’t going to make those “lifelong college friends” that everyone talks about. Within my first week at Suffolk I knew I was going to be here the next four years.
We started preseason and I immediately connected with girls on my team. Those connections I made during preseason was the reason I why I knew Suffolk was right for me. I soon became comfortable with where I was going and who I saw every day. Having athletics as a part of my life gave me an extra support system when adjusting to life away from home was tough.
Four years ago, I wasn’t planning to continue to play soccer in college. Four years later, I couldn’t imagine what my life would have been if I hadn’t. This game has taught me how to be tough both physically and mentally. I’ve grown as a person in ways that I never thought I could. Playing at a collegiate level pushed me to a physicality most athletes after high school don’t experience. There were times when balancing life, school, work and soccer became tough, but I knew there was a reason why I continued to play the game.
Suffolk was not my first choice, but I quickly realized it was my best choice. Being a part of Suffolk athletics has made me feel at home. My teammates have played a huge role in my success as a student and as a player. The lifelong friendships and memories I have made along the way have made me a better person, player, and captain. There are never enough words to put in prospective what my experience was at Suffolk as a student athlete.
I would like to thank my family who pushed me to continue playing the sport I love. They got me out of my comfort zone to go away for college for a bigger experience.
To my coach, you have been there for me both on and off the field. Not only have I become a better player, but a better captain and role model with your help.
To my teammates I have had along this four-year journey, thank you for making me the best version of myself. You have chosen me as your captain in my final year, and I hope you remember the season we played together forever.
You don’t know until it’s over, how much you will miss waking up at 6 a.m. for practices. The final minutes you play as a collegiate athlete is a moment you will never forget. I see my teammates getting ready for next season, and it’s a hard pill to swallow that I am no longer apart it. As much as we complain about the double sessions during preseason, the practices in late October when it’s 30 degrees and you’re cold, and the summer workout packet you dread doing, I truly will miss every moment of it. As I close this chapter of my life, I will always reflect on these moments as some of the best of my life.