Hudson High School has a countless number of dedicated student athletes working closer and closer to success everyday. Senior Maya Lake rises above and beyond when it comes to her athletics. Maya is a superstar on the field, committing the next four years of her life to playing Division 1 soccer at Wafford College in South Carolina. 

Lake sees soccer as so much more than just a sport. “On the field is where I’ve learned life lessons and made the best memories while playing with my best friends.” Lake has come so far as an athlete, but if it wasn’t for her true love of soccer she wouldn’t be where she’s at today. Lake emphasizes how important it is to “play for yourself, you’re never going to make it to the next level if you don’t love what you do.” She encourages younger athletes to always remember to still have fun. Parents and coaches put a lot of pressure and expectations on players’ shoulders, adding to the stress of the game, but loving what you play and playing what you love will make it all worth it. 

Despite Lake making her abilities look effortless, the road to becoming a college athlete is far from easy. From injuries to mental blocks and balancing soccer with school, there are so many components that go into the mindset of a successful athlete. The biggest challenge that Lake faced as a student athlete were from the coaches that didn’t give her the opportunity to show them the potential that she sees in herself because they didn’t see that same potential in her. Despite this, Lake encouraged herself to work even harder on the field, evidently proving to be a better athlete everyday. Lake expresses that her self-driven mindset is what got her to be where she is today. 

“No one ever has to tell me to go workout or go to the fields for extra practice, it’s something that I’ve always done on my own. Working hard even when no one is watching”

Balancing a varsity sport and school, especially multiple honors and AP classes, can seem very intimidating. Lake, however, expresses that her busy schedule has worked for her and not against her. She has had great time management skills from a young age, and having little free time forces her to not procrastinate, getting her work done in whatever extra time she can spare. 

Lake is an honorable student and athlete; her hard work will leave a lasting legacy at Hudson highschool and Hudson Soccer. We can’t wait to see what Lake’s future holds, but it’s easy to tell that she will do great things!