Defined by More Than a Jersey
By Ava Lekanides | IG: @avalekanides
You are more than your sport! Approaching my final seasons, I’m reflecting on everything I’ve learned. The most important lesson is that it’s possible to love your sport deeply without letting it shape every part of who you are.
Let me introduce myself. Hi, my name is Ava Lekanides. I’ve played soccer since I was four. At thirteen, I tried out for club soccer and quit all other sports to focus solely on soccer. At that point, if anyone asked, “Who is Ava?” the answer would have been simple: Ava, the soccer player. At seventeen, I committed to Queens University of Charlotte to pursue my dream of playing soccer in college. During my first year and a half, I dealt with a recurring injury and struggled to find my identity outside of soccer. It wasn’t until I spent nearly seven months unable to play that I realized how deeply soccer had shaped my life — and how much I had defined myself by it.
The beginning of college was nothing like I imagined. As my time on the field disappeared, so did the identity I had built around being an athlete. My confidence faded, and I felt like I was letting everyone down — but most of all, myself. Being injured made those thoughts louder. I felt worthless without soccer, which forced me to confront how deeply I had tied my value to the sport. The mental health struggles athletes face, especially at the college level, aren’t talked about nearly enough. I know I’m not alone. Reading other athletes’ stories, I often think, I’ve been there. Many athletes, myself included, aren’t always comfortable talking about mental health. But choosing to share these experiences matters. Speaking up isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a step toward reminding ourselves and others that we are more than our sport.
Soccer has always been my life. Everything I loved about myself came from this sport. My happiness was defined by my on-field success. At nineteen, I transferred to Queens College to play closer to home and begin finding my identity beyond the game. Now, at twenty, when I step on the field, I am the four year old girl who just loved kicking the ball around. That’s Ava, the soccer player — but off the field, I am so much more. I am Ava the daughter, older sister, friend, student, and hopefully one day a role model for athletes just like me.
Soccer is still a huge part of my life and it always will be, but it no longer defines all of who I am. There is so much more to my story than just soccer, and while I love the sport deeply, I am more than just an athlete.
