Holly Christman, a Miami High School varsity soccer player, has a different outlook on sports and life than most. Every goal she scores and every practice she completes carries a deeper meaning beyond the game itself.
As a center forward, Christman faces unique challenges on the field. “The most difficult thing about playing that position is the pressure to turn opportunities into goals,” she said. “As a forward you get few clear opportunities to score in a game, especially when playing a good team.”
But Christman’s drive to succeed extends far beyond soccer statistics. Her greatest inspiration comes from her aunt, Maj. Ashley Christman, a Marine Corps officer battling stage 4 endocrine cancer.
“My aunt is a Major in the Marine Corps, and she has served our country in so many honorable ways,” Christman said. When doctors diagnosed her aunt with the rare form of cancer, Ashley Christman refused to accept defeat. “There was not much known about the cancer or how to survive it, but she was motivated to find out, so she did her own research and began navigating ways to help her body fight the illness.”
The Major’s determination became the subject of a documentary titled “Forward,” chronicling her fight to remain on active duty while battling the disease.
“My aunt’s resilience and determination inspires me every day because she has taught me the most valuable things in life are the things we fight for,” Christman said. “She has taught me to be strong and to work hard in the face of adversity.”
This philosophy translates directly to Christman’s athletic career. “Athletics has taught me that nothing in life comes easy,” she said. “In order to succeed you have to put the work in and believe in yourself.”
The young soccer player has learned to embrace setbacks as opportunities for growth. “Having setbacks and failing does not mean you are weak, it means you were willing to try,” Christman said. “Having the willingness to try and learn shows that you are more than capable of achieving anything you put your mind to.”
For Christman, her aunt’s battle has become a daily reminder to maximize every opportunity. “I am so blessed to have such an important role model in my life,” she said.
