The 2022 Rams Reflect is the seventh 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.
Jackie Kelly, Women's Soccer | Hometown: Woodbridge, N.J. | Major: Law
Dear Team,
To all the girls I’ve encountered throughout this four-year experience, I accredit everything I am today to all of you. Being on a college sports team is far more than just playing the game. Since joining this team my freshmen year, I’ve learned many things about soccer; better positioning, better angles, better shooting technique, etc. The biggest lessons, however, came from all of you. I now understood how to communicate and how to adapt to various personalities. I’ve learned how to manage my time and take care of myself for the greater good of others. I’ve learned how to push myself, push others, and accept critique in times of need. Overall, I’ve learned how to be apart of something greater than myself.
My captains and upperclassmen before me created a foundation of family and trust that I’ve tried my best to upkeep. I felt nothing, but acceptance from my first practice and I thank all of you for making my transition to college so easygoing. Something extremely notable about fall sports that many other athletes don’t experience is the two-three weeks we spend together prior to the beginning of the school year. You must move in, navigate the city, and go to practice all in the span of your first six hours on campus. There is no one else to fall back on except your team. You upperclassmen, though, showed us the ropes with open arms and I had lifelong best friends before anyone else even moved on to campus.
My current teammates, it was an absolute honor to be your captain and leave this team knowing you’ll do big things beyond our years. You girls are not just my teammates, but my family. You’ve taught me how to be a good leader, how to adjust to uncontrollable situations, how to inspire, and how to appreciate everything in the moment. Every milestone this season, such as my last first practice, my senior day, and my last game were 10 times more special because of the love you all showed me.
Within this team I’ve met girls that I know will carry me through the rest of my life. I can’t wait to watch you all grow into both the amazing players and people you will be. This program has made my college experience everything I could’ve imagined and exceeded my expectations. I encourage you all to love everything you do regardless of the outcome. Pick your head up after a bad pass, wipe your tears after a loss, and don’t ever harp on a singular bad moment. Celebrate every win like it’s a championship, treat your teammates with the same constant support they give you, and play every game like it’s your last because one day it will be. Take everything this team has to offer and run with it because all of you and this game deserve nothing but the best version of yourselves. Thank you for everything you’ve done and will do for me in the future. You’re appreciated more than you’ll ever know.
Sincerely,
Jackie Kelly