Kicking Her Way To Her Goals

She shoots, she scores, she aces the tests and she would even make Beethoven proud. Emma Thornton is what you would call a “well-rounded” athlete. At the age of nine-months, Thornton was doing pushups between two bar stools in her kitchen. She has incorporated a “Don’t give up” attitude into her daily routine that has stuck with her throughout her life.

As a young sophomore, she plays a significant role on the soccer team in the midfield position helping her team qualify for the playoffs. Even though the team lost 3-1 to Wasatch, the future looks promising with Thornton leading the team. But that’s not the only place she excels. Thornton also has a rigorous course of classes that include AP physics, AP English Language, AP World History, IB Spanish, and Secondary Math III Honors. She also has a passion for violin that was ignited at the age of three.

When she was six, she wanted to be better at free throws in basketball, so she would stay outside and shoot 100 free throws each day. She even played baseball with the boys for many years, making sure they didn’t beat her. As a young child, she was driven as an athlete and in every other way. This drive to be great has stayed with her throughout her life.

Thornton is one of the best players on this years women’s soccer team, as she was last year as a freshman. At the midfield position, Emma is always touching the ball and getting herself as well as her teammates involved. She has scored 12 goals in 14 games for the Rams. Thornton’s quick ball movement and exceptional vision of the field allows her to get her teammates involved. She is known to be a selfless player but will take her chance when the opportunity arises.

“She is all over the place,” senior captain Krystle Payne said. “She participates in the offense and then comes back for defense and she always has a positive attitude.”

Her excellent soccer skills have gotten some attention from some colleges around the state. She has participated in college ID camps but no scholarships offers have been extended. Thornton would be living her dream if she were able to play soccer in college. Even though playing soccer in college is her dream, her mother is more worried about the person that Emma will be in the future.

“We love watching Emma play [soccer]! However, I am more excited about her prospects of being a caring, productive person who contributes on many levels in this life,” her mother Lisa said.

Thornton also goes above and beyond in her schoolwork. In seventh and eighth grade, she attended the Extended Learning Program (ELP) at West High School. She entered Highland with most of her Freshman requirements completed. This year she is taking three AP classes along with an IB Spanish class. This schedule is no walk in the park for anybody. But the fact that Thornton is handling these classes as a sophomore is remarkable.

“I hope to go to medical school and make a difference helping those around me,” Thornton said.

Along with school and soccer, Thornton has also grown to love to play the violin. She started taking lessons at the age of three years old. A big part of her reason for playing the violin is her father. She loves playing so much because her father accompanies her. He jokes with Thornton that if she plays her scales before a soccer game, then “everything will come in to alignment and we will win.”

Thornton participates in a violin competition every year and also plays in demanding institutes during the summer.

Thornton barely has any free time in her life but when she does, she loves to spend time with her family and friends. She also loves to go on vacations and see new places. Her mom also shared that she can make a mean French bread and loves action movies.

With these many activities and games comes many sacrifices. She sacrifices times with family and friends to be on the soccer field and even has to give up family vacations for games. Most years, Thornton eats Thanksgiving dinner on the beach or at a hotel due to soccer tournaments. However, it does not feel like a big sacrifice to her because it is what she has come to truly enjoy.

“I balance all my interests by setting priorities straight and spending my time wisely,” Thornton said.

“Emma is blessed with many talents and will succeed no matter where she pits her efforts. The game of soccer is a short term prospect, while gaining a wonderful education, refining her musical abilities, serving in her community, and loving her family and friends, are long term endeavors that bring life-long satisfaction,” Thornton said.

A concept anyone can use in life.