CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The 2023 Senior Perspectives is the 18th in a series of annual collections. Senior captains and representatives of teams at Harvard have been invited to contribute viewpoints based on personal experience from both their senior seasons and full varsity careers at Harvard.
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Hometown: Bratislava, Slovakia
Sport: Men's Soccer
Concentration: Psychology
House: Eliot
My time as a student-athlete at Harvard has been an unforgettable and enriching experience, both on the pitch and in the classroom. When I arrived in Cambridge, I had doubts about whether I would fit into this uniquely smart group of students and I knew that the classes would be difficult. Despite my fears and doubts, my first few weeks could not have been better. I have realized that Harvard's nurturing environment would help me improve both athletically and academically. From the very first day of preseason in August, I knew that Harvard Men's Soccer is the place where I was meant to be.
Being a foreign student, I had respect for the new environment and culture. My teammates helped me with the transition to college life and showed me around to make me feel welcome. I vividly remember scoring in my first game for HMS, but an unexpected obstacle soon turned the tide against me. I suffered a season-ending injury during my third game and had to undergo surgery. I needed to be mentally strong and resilient to keep pushing and get back as soon as possible. My family back home and everyone on the HMS team helped me through the tough times. As I was getting ready to step back onto the field, the COVID-19 pandemic sent us all home and my time at Harvard, this time both academically and athletically, took another unexpected turn. Being a Harvard student but studying online off-campus was not on anyone's wish list. However, the relationships we developed at HMS and in the classrooms proved to be stronger and more meaningful. Life will, unfortunately, throw obstacles in your way from time to time, but it's up to our attitude what we do with them - we need to look at everything as a new opportunity rather than a lost chance.
During my junior and senior seasons, when I finally managed to enjoy Harvard at its best, I had to make the most of everything. On the pitch, we proved that HMS can compete against anyone and that our goals need to be much higher. Sitting in the meeting room and waiting to see if HMS would be picked as one of the 48 best programs in the country underlines the progress we have made and that we elevated Harvard soccer to where it truly belongs. I sincerely hope that my attitude and determination helped leave the program in a better place. I tried my best every time I stepped on the Jordan Field. As a team, we managed to create a strong group of players who were acting as one unit both on and off the field. We believed in ourselves and the results came naturally. I am grateful for the honor to have shared the locker room with such a talented and intelligent group of players. Huge congratulations to all!
Because of my injury and the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, I only managed to play two full seasons. Even though the athlete in me would have wanted the full four years, I can only feel gratitude and pride for the two. I had an unbelievable experience as an HMS player and I want to thank everybody who took a part in it. I can see HMS winning the Ivy League soon and making a deep run in the NCAA tournament. I will be cheering on from the stands as the Crimson runs in my blood forever.
Being a student-athlete at Harvard helped me become a better person, gave me an opportunity to push myself to the limit, and allowed me to meet people that I now consider my best friends. I have learned so much from every single one of them. While I am leaving for pastures new, the memories will stay forever.
