Utilizing Fun for Growth: An Interview with Kirsten Jensen - Volunteer Spotlight
KSC Volunteer Spotlight - December 2021: Kirsten Jensen
Kirsten Jensen knew she wanted to get out and do something meaningful for the community in 2021. She had heard of Kensington Soccer Club and its initiatives, and as someone who enjoyed watching women’s soccer, she decided to sign up as a volunteer recreational soccer coach.
“I knew a bit of the game and I had worked as an elementary school teacher before, so I knew how to work with the kids,” Jensen said, who coaches the U6-U8 rec teams.
This was Jensen’s first time working with kids in an outdoor and physical setting. While many of us would assume having to manage all the energy kids have out on a field would be difficult, Jensen believed otherwise.
“When you have them on the soccer field, it’s a bit easier because they’re doing things they want to do,” she said. “They want to be there and it’s fun for them. That’s what a lot of it is all about: making activities that are fun and pique interest so that they use their energy there.”
In addition, she’s enjoyed witnessing the growth of her players through the fun challenges she’s created for them. She’s helping them realize that if they apply effort and time to something they’re doing, they will become better.
“I enjoy seeing the learning process of the players: who’s engaged and who isn’t, who’s struggling with what skills and how to bring it out in a fun way,” she said. “If something is hard for them, they can practice it, break it down, and get that confidence that they’re not stuck where they’re at now and that they can learn while having fun.”
When asked about her favorite memory with KSC this past fall season, she smiled and thought about the teams she had helped bring together.
“Watching them work and play together as a team, encouraging kids who were a bit less experienced, and celebrating together when they scored a goal was fun to see,” she said. “No one said I was the best coach ever, but that’s okay. The kids were always excited to see me and be there to play.”
More About Kirsten
Jensen currently works as a software developer for CardConnect. She’s also worked with TechGirls and Resurrection Philadelphia. In her free time, she enjoys watching women’s sports (primarily soccer and basketball), cooking, and hiking with her dog, Fern.