Photo by: Blake Rovai
Women's Soccer Q&A: Christina Settles
10/31/2018 8:56:00 AM | Women's Soccer, Competing With Purpose Blog
Days before her final home game, senior midfielder Christina Settles anticipates her Senior Day coming up this Saturday. We discussed her hopes for the team's possible appearance in the NCAA Tournament, emotions regarding her last home game and her plans after graduation:
Q: This weekend's win was a big one, which means that playing in the NCAA Tournament is still a possibility. What are some thoughts you have regarding that opportunity?
A: As a senior, I definitely hope our last conference game isn't our last game altogether. It is definitely a possibility that we can still make it into the tournament based on our last 9-10 games of the season. We have had some big wins that will be considered, but we can only control how we choose to show up to this upcoming week of training and the game against USD. I know the team feels the same way, so I'm excited to see how our intensity and energy will raise during this last week of conference play.
Q: Senior Day is on Saturday. What emotions do you have about playing your last home game?
A: Honestly, every time I think about Saturday's game, I tear up a little. It'll be the last home game I play for this program and with a team that's become my family. I don't think it has fully hit me that my journey with Pepperdine soccer is almost over. I am forever grateful for everything I have learned from the program, my coaches and my teammates.
Q: After seeing your fair share of Senior Days, how do you expect yours to be?
A: Wow, this is definitely getting me choked up. I think that my coaches really know how to recruit players; every senior class before me included women who exemplified what it means to be a Pepperdine Wave. I'm hoping that I can leave the same impact on our underclassmen as the seniors in my past have left on me. On Senior Day, I just hope to leave everything I have on the field. I know the underclassmen will be giving it their all for the senior class, and I hope they know we are going to be doing the same for them.
Q: What has been the most fulfilling moment in your time as a student-athlete?
A: I've made so many great memories from Pepperdine soccer, which makes it difficult to look back at the last four years and pinpoint the most fulfilling moment of my career. I can truly say that I am grateful for everything that I have been able to experience with this team, including running up sand dunes during a hailstorm with winds blowing around 35 miles per hour. This program has allowed me to push limits that I didn't know I could push, helped me grow as a player and a person, and has given me friendships that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
Q: What is the best advice your coaches have given you?
A: It's not necessarily advice as much as it is a way of living. They have taught me to live life in a way that looks to constantly improve myself in all areas of my life. We frequently use the phrase "how you do anything is how you do anything." I have learned to focus on doing things the right way rather than the easy way.
Q: What is one thing you'll miss about Pepperdine when you graduate?
A: Besides the view, I'll miss the people. I know I'll still keep in touch with many of them, but it'll be different not seeing my team, coaches and friends every day.
Q: As a senior, what are your plans after graduation?
A: The question we all dread being asked. I am still trying to decide on whether or not I want to play soccer professionally. Other than that, I don't necessarily have a plan yet. Not having a plan might be a little nerve-wracking for most people, but I feel like everything will work out the way God plans for it to.
Q: This weekend's win was a big one, which means that playing in the NCAA Tournament is still a possibility. What are some thoughts you have regarding that opportunity?
A: As a senior, I definitely hope our last conference game isn't our last game altogether. It is definitely a possibility that we can still make it into the tournament based on our last 9-10 games of the season. We have had some big wins that will be considered, but we can only control how we choose to show up to this upcoming week of training and the game against USD. I know the team feels the same way, so I'm excited to see how our intensity and energy will raise during this last week of conference play.
Q: Senior Day is on Saturday. What emotions do you have about playing your last home game?
A: Honestly, every time I think about Saturday's game, I tear up a little. It'll be the last home game I play for this program and with a team that's become my family. I don't think it has fully hit me that my journey with Pepperdine soccer is almost over. I am forever grateful for everything I have learned from the program, my coaches and my teammates.
Q: After seeing your fair share of Senior Days, how do you expect yours to be?
A: Wow, this is definitely getting me choked up. I think that my coaches really know how to recruit players; every senior class before me included women who exemplified what it means to be a Pepperdine Wave. I'm hoping that I can leave the same impact on our underclassmen as the seniors in my past have left on me. On Senior Day, I just hope to leave everything I have on the field. I know the underclassmen will be giving it their all for the senior class, and I hope they know we are going to be doing the same for them.
Q: What has been the most fulfilling moment in your time as a student-athlete?
A: I've made so many great memories from Pepperdine soccer, which makes it difficult to look back at the last four years and pinpoint the most fulfilling moment of my career. I can truly say that I am grateful for everything that I have been able to experience with this team, including running up sand dunes during a hailstorm with winds blowing around 35 miles per hour. This program has allowed me to push limits that I didn't know I could push, helped me grow as a player and a person, and has given me friendships that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
Q: What is the best advice your coaches have given you?
A: It's not necessarily advice as much as it is a way of living. They have taught me to live life in a way that looks to constantly improve myself in all areas of my life. We frequently use the phrase "how you do anything is how you do anything." I have learned to focus on doing things the right way rather than the easy way.
Q: What is one thing you'll miss about Pepperdine when you graduate?
A: Besides the view, I'll miss the people. I know I'll still keep in touch with many of them, but it'll be different not seeing my team, coaches and friends every day.
Q: As a senior, what are your plans after graduation?
A: The question we all dread being asked. I am still trying to decide on whether or not I want to play soccer professionally. Other than that, I don't necessarily have a plan yet. Not having a plan might be a little nerve-wracking for most people, but I feel like everything will work out the way God plans for it to.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Soccer
