Why Not Me

By: Simone Jackson

I’m on the cusp of my final season of collegiate soccer and it’s all starting to sink in. This is it. It’s been such an amazing few years, I almost don’t want to leave. But it’s time. I’ve made my mark, and now, for one more year, I’ll put on that cardinal and gold kit and enjoy every moment of it.

I’m especially going to soak in all the little things - the team dinners, the inside jokes, all the memories we’re making together. As I look around our locker room, I see a lot of new faces, and I see myself in them. I try to remember how I felt when I was in their shoes, and do what I can to make it easier for them. I want to help my teammates see everything that USC has to offer, on and off the field. I took advantage of a lot of things, a lot of things that aren’t always part of the stereotypical student-athlete experience and I hope my teammates are just as excited to do the same. 

The tough classes, the passion-driven major, the international experiences, just because I’m a student-athlete doesn’t mean these are out of reach. I ask myself, ‘Why not me?’ and through my faith and relentlessness I make it my reality. 

You can’t expect to reach the highest level of success in your chosen field, sport or interest without applying the same principles and dedication to all aspects of life. It just doesn’t add up. I can’t be the best soccer player if I’m not putting the effort into school, my relationships, my other passions. Not fulfilling my potential and purpose is not an option for me. It’s a mentality, and I’m not a person who likes to hear no. I don’t care what it takes, I’ll take the road less traveled, I’ll go through the back door, but I’ll find a way. 

It’s something I’ve done throughout my time as a Trojan. And now I’d love nothing more than to lead by example and pay it forward to the next generation. 

As I embark on this final soccer season, I’ll be finishing up my Bachelor’s Degree in Business of Cinematic Arts with a minor in Screenwriting. Concurrently, I’m also working on my Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. That adds up to 23 units this fall semester. Yes, it’s challenging, but hey, why not me?

Outside of the classroom, I’ve taken advantage of a range of academic cultural and professional experiences, including international business trips with USC Marshall to Thailand, Indonesia, Cuba and Spain, as well as a Maymester “bookpacking” trip through New Orleans and the Louisiana bayou and most recently a trip as President of the United Black Student-Athletes Association in conjunction with the BIG 10 Conference to Selma, AL. Through my connections with House of Victory I’ve also completed an internship with Fox Sports where I got to work alongside one of my idols, soccer legend Carli Lloyd. These internships and travel experiences ARE possible as a student-athlete. True it isn’t always the easiest scheduling, but, why not me?

On the pitch, we’ve finished in the top-three in the Pac-12 Conference and secured a berth in the NCAA Tournament in each of my three seasons. I’ve earned All-Pac-12 honors each season, and have continued training in the National Team program since I was 14. This season presents new, but exciting, challenges as we enter a new conference. Every time I put on my jersey, I feel such immense pride. And looking at this final collegiate season I can’t wait to see what new heights our team will reach. 

Cumulatively, these experiences are the reason why I chose USC. I wanted a college experience where I could get the FULL experience. And that’s exactly what I’ve done. I’ve been able to pursue my academic passions, travel internationally for real-world business experiences and compete at the highest level on the field. How blessed am I to have attended my dream school that quite literally has helped turn my dreams to reality?

I wouldn’t be able to do it without the support I’ve had from my teammates and coaches over the years, but especially my family: my why. My parents built a foundation for me and my brothers that we’ve worked so hard to live up to. They said we could do anything. Their wholehearted belief in us made it that much easier to know that the sky’s the limit. My older brother, John, played football here and is starting his NFL journey, while my younger brother, Jaden, is committed to play baseball at UCLA. What I do is just the norm in our family.

Everything that I do, every decision I make drives me towards my ultimate goals of playing soccer professionally and competing for the USWNT in the 2028 Olympics right here at home. Of course, I’ll continue to pursue my passions beyond soccer, including having recently achieved one of my goals, finishing my first screenplay.

But for now, I’m just staying present and not letting the future weigh me down. I’m keeping my word to others, but also to myself. I have a vision and every day I’m pushing myself to achieve that using the mantra my dad instilled in me at such a young age: why not me?