The Voyage Of Success

Different

'Different'

If I had one word to describe my life right now, in this moment, that would be it, different. Why, is what all of you may be wondering.

My name's Shannon O'Neill, I was once 18 and a small student in the big city of New York. I was mostly known around my school for being the 'outside of the box' girl; that means, short hair, too many sports, video games, weird clothing, obsession with music, few friends, whatever, I guess that pretty much generates an image about myself.

Just to tell you a little bit about myself, since I was very young I started to show a really big interest in sports, going to tennis classes, soccer, martial arts, swimming, volleyball, basketball, handball, baseball, and field hockey; whatever you can think of, I have done it. At age of 11, I tried my first Taekwondo class, that's when I knew that this, alongside another sport that would come to me later on, was going to be chosen one. I became aware of how much I could give, of how big I could become. I decided it was time to settle down, to choose one sport, and that's what I did, I chose. I already knew that this wouldn't be easy; it would take time, punches, kicks, sweat, tears, heartbreak, pain, and finally joy, to become the best, to be a World Champion.

Don't think that being a TKD Student was the only thing I did, I was also a musician. Have been part of several bands since I started to play guitar, which would be, around the 9 years old? Ugh I'm so bad at numbers. I have been acknowledged a lot of times as a great guitar player, or producer and singer, and actually, I've always dreamed of being a badass rock star, standin' on top of the billboard charts. However (yes, there's always a however in my life) as I grew up, I began to realize that I had talent for music, but each time, I enjoyed it less and less. Everything finally changed when I got my first injury while training, when I tore my left calf. That's when my true passion for sports began, and that year was the year that everything turned upside down for me.

2016. Worst year ever as for some people. As for me, the year I completely fell in love with soccer; I was a player since like forever, but it was then when I became determined to achieve a professional soccer career, to be in the NWSL, to be in the glorious United States Women's National Team (and to also be a world champion in Taekwondo). I was injured, heartbroken, and angry because of the Olympic Games; but made huge memories, laughed my ass off, and ended that year happy and with an idea for my future.

This is my journey; this is how I went from being a weird girl from NYC, to be standing on top of the world.