IN MY WORDS: Chris Wondolowski

Chris Wondolowski pens letter to 2005 self

By San Jose Earthquakes

September 15^th, 2017

Chris,

Tonight you will make your debut in MLS. I can still remember how it felt. You are going to be very excited. Even though it will be in stoppage time, it will be so much fun to run out there.

I know you aren’t expecting to play, but to have your name called will be pretty cool. You will be nervous. Any time you make an appearance, especially for the first time, you get a bit nervous, but you will be excited as well. Even now I have a little bit of nerves, but not quite as much as I did then. It is a lot more excitement than nerves.

"These next few years are going to test your mettle and drive."

It will take about a year for you to score your first MLS goal. It will be kind of a scramble in the box. Alejandro Moreno will have a shot, Eddie Robinson will put it back in the box and then it will fall to you about yard out. You will tap it in. There will be so much excitement, so much adrenaline going through you. It will be fun.

These next few years are going to test your mettle and drive. You’ll not only have to prove yourself to two different cities, but you’ll also spend significant time in the reserve league. You aren’t going to play a full 90 minutes for almost four years after you make your debut. There will definitely be some trying times, but these are times that you will enjoy. Use them as learning opportunities; there are some lessons that will be very important.

"Soak up as much information as you can because you will need it in the long run."

Looking at where I am now, my advice to you is keep believing in yourself and stay the course. Soak up as much information as you can because you will need it in the long run.

There are lots of ups and downs, especially as a forward. For every goal, there will be missed chances, including a memorable one in a World Cup. There are always difficult times with that, so just try to bounce back from them.

Family will be a big one in this. Lindsey has been there from the start. She was there at Chico and will always play a big role. It is nice to have family close to you.

From,

Chris

Footnotes

Contributor: Charlotte Muscroft

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FootNotes

Contributor: Charlotte Muscroft