Jesse Bareilles’ two-year career as a forward for the CCSF Women’s Soccer team is the type of collegiate-athletic career that many can only just imagine. All-American? Check. All-state and player of the year honors? Did it — twice. Break a school record? Broke two this year.

 

But out of all the accolades she has accumulated in two years, the one bestowed upon her on Tuesday ranks at the very top of her list of achievements — 2016 National Soccer Coaches Association of America Women’s Junior College Scholar Player of the Year, an award that recognizes the nation’s best on the field and in the classroom.

 

There are thousands of women’s soccer athletes in the national junior college ranks. Very few shine as brightly on the soccer field as Bareilles. But with this most recent achievement, she is now recognized as one of the nation’s most outstanding student-athletes.

 

“When I saw the email I was truly in disbelief. I went through the same set of emotions I went through last year when I was named All-American — shock and excitement,” said a humble Bareilles. “I personally feel the most amount of achievement in winning this award.”

 

Bareilles’ Rams soccer career is unrivaled. This year she broke two single-season records previously held by another CCSF All-American in Paloma Zermeno. Barielles’ 33 goals and 72 points broke Zermeno’s 2013 totals of 31 goals and 70 points. Her career 52 goals and 115 points are also school records.

 

Although her natural talents on the soccer field shined through, it was in the classroom where she separated herself from the other junior-college athletes that were considered for the scholar player of the year award. She maintained a 4.0 grade point average through 2016. Did academics come just as easily to her as soccer? She’ll be the first one to say “no.”

 

“In high school I struggled with my grades. I figured they really didn't matter. But it occurred to me that that mindset was very skewed when I didn't get accepted to my number one school out of high school,” Bareilles said. “I knew I was as smart or smarter than kids who had been accepted, but mostly I was mad at myself. So when I got to CCSF, I decided that I would make my academics my number one priority. My parents really helped me and allowed me to be a full-time student.”

 

Bareilles credits CCSF’s teachers and Head Coach Jeff Wilson for cultivating a culture of academic success.

 

“Academically CCSF was the right place for me. I was able to enroll in the same classes I would take at a four-year school, but my class sizes were smaller and my professors really wanted the best for me. All my professors are here at City to teach and help their students succeed,” she said. “Jeff (Wilson) is a great coach when it comes to being open and accepting of students missing practice, when need be, to do homework or spend extra time in the classroom.”

 

Other than her family and close friends, Wilson, in particular, has seen firsthand Bareilles’ growth in the classroom and on the pitch.

 

“It’s truly amazing that she has been bestowed with the biggest honor any community-college soccer player can receive. I am so honored to have been given the opportunity to coach Jesse and am thrilled that CCSF served as a platform for her to show the entire nation how special she is as a student-athlete.

 

Of all the players that I have worked with in my 20-plus years of coaching, I can't think of anyone who displayed a greater work ethic than Jesse. From the moment I first started working with her, I could tell that she had a relentless desire to succeed. In every situation, team or individual, she was open to suggestions on what she needed to do to make herself and the team better. I couldn't be happier for her, and I know that this is just the beginning of the many great things that she will accomplish in the years ahead,” Wilson said  

 

When Bareilles received news about the 2016 NSCAA Women’s Junior College Scholar Player of the Year award, she immediately texted her family, boyfriend, and Coach Wilson.

 

“My dad immediately called me, and I could tell he was super proud, because he knows how hard I’ve been working in my classes, and how many hours I spend weekly in the library focusing on my school work,” Bareilles said.

 

Junior college athletes have a two-year window to find out if they can continue their sport of passion and, hopefully, transfer to a four-year university.

 

Bareilles is now looking at multiple offers from NCAA universities to continue her soccer and academic career.

 

In the end, it was really Jesse Bareilles’ choice to keep that window open.