Oct. 2, 2007
By Mary Kate DeCoursey, Penn State Athletic Communications Student Assistant
"Value every moment. Life is such a gift; every moment is so precious."
No, that's not a quote from a Nobel Peace Prize winner, or a nationally known scholar. It's not even something that your mom said to you last night when you hung up the phone. This is a quote from 21-year-old Aubrey Aden-Buie, a senior on Penn State's women's soccer team.
"One of my best friends died in a car accident when I was a senior in high school, and it really made me see things from a whole new perspective," said Aden-Buie.
When fans see this 5-10, blonde-hair, blue-eyed captain in her prime at Jeffery Field, they know there is more to her than a forward on the soccer team. A member of the Penn State Schreyer's Honors College with a 3.75 GPA, Aden-Buie works just as hard off the field.
She volunteers for Penn State's Dance Marathon, the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, by giving her time during the 46-hour weekend and participating on stage with her team during athlete hour. Aden-Buie is also a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB) and works in a sociology laboratory on campus for approximately six hours per week.
On the field, this captain earned first team All-Big Ten, third team NSCAA All-Mid Atlantic Region and third team Soccer Buzz All-Region honors during her junior year. Aden-Buie led her team with 28 points, 12 goals and 4 assists, including the game winner against Boston College in the NCAA Tournament, sending the Nittany Lions into the quarterfinals. She is second on the Blue and White with five goals, including two game-winners, and 10 points this season.
Auden-Buie, who is double majoring in psychology and English, said the best thing about playing soccer for Penn State is that she is able to play the sport she loves whenever she wants against some of the best players in the country.
"Sometimes it feels like soccer is my whole life," said Aden-Buie. "The away games on the weekends are the hardest because we are gone for a few days."
With her other commitments outside of her sport, many wonder how this soccer standout keeps up with it all.
"It is hard to stay focused sometimes," said Aden-Buie. "I expect the best and am never satisfied. It is not hard because I want to do everything I am involved in and have a passion for all I do. I have had to make many sacrifices to do what is best for soccer and my academics."
However, Aden-Buie did not always have this positive attitude. When Aubrey was younger, many people told her she would not succeed, whether it was on the field, in the classroom, or with other activities. She said it was these comments that have spurred her to try harder in all she does.
"I had two decisions," said Aden-Buie. "One was to believe people when they told me that I was not good enough, and the other was to work hard to prove them wrong. Once you let go of the fear of failing, you see the chances you want to take."
Following her four years in Happy Valley, this inspirational athlete hopes to play soccer for as long as possible. The professional league for women is expected to make a return to the United States within the next few years, and her dream is to play in the league. Aden-Buie said there is one thing that always keeps her driven in all she does now and in the future.
"I believe that everything happens for a reason, and we learn so much from each and every experience we have."