Athlete Of The Month Archives

   Athlete of the Month for April 2006

Jessica Wall
Soccer Goal Keeper
Vestavia-Attack Soccer Club
John Carroll High School

    Soccer Goal Keeper, Jessica Wall   

Jessica Wall is a 16 year old junior at John Caroll High School. She plays goal keeper on the Varsity soccer team.  Her club team is Attack '89. She also is a starter on the Alabama State ODP (Olympic Development Program) Team. Jessica hopes to make the regional or national pool this year after attending regional camp, in the summer. Some of the colleges she is interested in include UAB, Samford, Furman, UNC Greensboro and Ole Miss. On a personal note, I have known Jessica for about four years. I have played soccer with her on the Alabama ODP team for two years and played against her during the club and High School seasons. She is an excellent Goal Keeper, leader on the field, with a great attitude and love for the game. Jessica is a devoted teammate and challenging opponent. She always has a smile on her face and can easily put a smile on her teammates faces with her special sense of humor. Jessica never fails to amaze me with what all she can do on and off the field, such as starting a pryaer group at her school. She is an awsome friend and teammate. I look forward to sharing more State ODP games with her and will continue to respect her, on the field, as an opponent. She sets a good example with her high morals and values and is to be admired.

Keep The Faith, Jess!

Sincerely,
Alex Avram

   INTERVIEW:

  1. When did you learn of your mother's illness?
  "Around a year ago in mid-March".    

  2. What is the current status of your mother's health?
"Her diagnosis was a very rare one. In fact, she is one of very few, if not the only one, who has been diagnosed with tumors called pheochromocytomas inside her lungs. She has undergone chemotherapy, reducing the tumors approximately 85%. Now she is taking a new drug developed for another form of cancer as educated research to see if it will further reduce the tumors".  

3. How did it affect you as a player?
"I was obviously hit very hard emotionally with the news of my mother's illness, but I knew that the only thing I could do for her was to do my best to be strong for her and to dedicate everything that I did to the Lord through whose will my mother would be healed. I prayed everyday and before every game and did my best for my mother whenever I played".      

4. How has/does soccer helped you through this time in your life?
"Soccer has been a sort of escape from my problems. When I am on the field I let all of my worldly stresses and anxieties go and I just focus on the game. During the day, when I could do nothing but think about my problems, I was always worried and secretly depressed, but when I stepped on the field every night, all of my sadness just drifted away, and I just had so much fun doing what I love to do".      

5. How did this change you?
"I think that I have become a better person through all of this, and I believe that I have
learned to be strong for those who need me to be their support".      

6. What have you learned?
I have learned that you should never take things and people, especially people you love, for granted. I have also learned to share my feelings with others and to ask for help when I am struggling to handle things that weigh heavily upon my emotions.      

7. How have you been supportive of your mother?
"I have been there for her as much as my free time has allowed, and I have prayed with her on several occasions. I always try to bring her up when she is feeling sad, and I always try to be comical to cheer her up".      

8. What advice would you give another athlete who has a parent fighting cancer?
"Find that person that you can talk to about anything and just lean on them for strength and support, stay strong for your parent because although they know that this time is hard for you, it will help them to know that you can adjust to whatever your life may throw at you, and they want to know that you will be o.k., and the most important advice I can possibly give is to invest in prayer everyday and have your friends and family do likewise because if you believe that God can help you, then he will".      

9. Any other thoughts/comments you would like to add?
"Please keep my mom and every other cancer patient in your prayers because
without God no one could ever achieve anything, and no one would be healed".