Finding community, Scott Brink

Since he was five years old, English teacher Scott Brink has been playing soccer. When Brink was 11 he joined his first competitive soccer team, turning the sport into a major part of his lifestyle, as he would have to travel all over for his soccer tournaments.

Throughout his high school years, Brink continued to play soccer competitively and was also a member of his high school varsity soccer team. In college, at California State University, Chico, Brink redshirted as a freshman for the university’s soccer team, but at the end of the year decided to stop playing. Still, he continued to play during his college years on teams with some of his friends.

After he graduated and became a teacher, Brink started playing on an adult co-ed soccer team with some of his friends, and has been playing on the team for the past 15 years.

What began as a way to continue his childhood passion has turned into an excuse to spend time with friends.

“At first it was just something active to do. I loved playing soccer and I was looking for an outlet again to continue to play,” Brink said. “Then over the course of the season my teammates and I became pretty good friends and it turned into I want to go see and hang out with my friends.”

As he continues to age and play soccer, Brink has seen a shift in his mentality while playing.

“When I was younger playing competitively felt really important and things seemed very serious, but now it’s more for fun and to see my friends on the team and to get some exercise,” Brink said. “As you get older it’s things like that that become important.”