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The Footballer

Gemma

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Making the transition from education I never found something that I was passionate about and therefore decided that traditional routes such as college and university wasn't right for me. I found Camp America advertised on one of my social media platforms and I fell in love with the idea of going to camp. I was counting down the days until I was 18, I just felt for the first time ever that I had a passion and had an idea and goal to get to!

At camp I was a general counsellor that worked with children aged 8/9 and during the lunch breaks and after school I was a soccer specialist working with groups of children and 1-1s teaching the basics of ball mastery and soccer. At first I was apprehensive as my camp was smaller than the ones I had researched and the staff were slightly older than me, but quickly I realised that this camp was a place where I belonged. The staff and the experience changed my outlook on life and I could never say thanks enough for all the personal growth I experienced whilst being there. Every single day I was excited to wake up and learn a new song or new dance they would teach us and smash the day! It truly was the happiest and most content I've ever felt.

First and foremost, camp helped me learn to be independent. I was 18 when I went to camp and this was my first experience travelling and being on my own. It was an experience that taught me how to manage my time, build relationships and pushed me so far out of my comfort zone that I discovered things I didn't even know about myself. It helped me to be employable and to learn about new cultures and backgrounds in such a short amount of time. 

Since going to camp, with my passion for participating in 'Soccer', I was approached on LinkedIn by somebody advertising for female football coaching jobs abroad. After camp I spent 5 days at home before moving to Kuwait for 2 years, to become an Arsenal Soccer Schools Coach creating opportunities for females to play football in the Middle East. 

The journey coaching also took me to Melbourne where I worked for Juventus Academy in Australia, pursuing my coaching dreams. Without the opportunity to work abroad and to show that I was comfortable living abroad & being independent I wouldn't have otherwise got the chance. Since my travels abroad, I am completing my UEFA B coaching license and now coach at the York Girls Regional Talent Club, where I am pursuing my coaching career in an elite environment. 

Camp America is the number one reason that sparks conversation when I apply for jobs, it is well respected by employers and everybody's individual journey is different; which is what makes it so special. You can't replicate the experience I had in Camp and compare it to somebody else which is why I would suggest it over an internship. It is and will always be such an influential period of my life that I am grateful for. 

Having Camp America on my CV proves to employers that I am reliable, adaptable, comfortable within myself, spontaneous and open minded, among countless other things! It shows that you have a sense of adventure and like to seek discomfort and from my experience it has benefited me in all of my professional roles since. 

The main things that I have taken away from camp is the sense of home and connection. Having the ability to build a new family abroad and always have the special memories with people all across the world and stories to tell. Another main thing I have taken away is the ability to interact and live with people with different personalities and backgrounds that has helped me in my adult life in employment, work overseas and general everyday life.

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