University of North Carolina Athletics
I'm A Tar Heel: Darcy McFarlane
October 8, 2015 | Women's Soccer
Dear Tar Heel Fans,
Thank you for bleeding Tar Heel blue and being some of the best sports fans in the country. Without you, our experiences as student-athletes and as Tar Heels would simply not be the same.
For those of you who may not know, my older sister Kelly, played here at Carolina before me, overlapping with me for her senior season, and my freshman season. Before that, my mom, Marilou, ran cross-country here (my dad played football at UC Davis, which we can forgive since he is a fully converted Tar Heel now). Even though we grew up in California, I think it's safe to say we have been “Tar Heel bred” our entire lives. My sister used to sleep on a Carolina Soccer pillowcase, and when we went to a game when we were little I got the whole Carolina team to sign my arm in sharpie (and I'll admit I didn't wash it for a few days at least). We grew up cheering for the team throughout the years, winning national championship after national championship. We looked up to the entire team, and I'm not sure we ever thought it was possible we could both end up here, playing for the same team we admired so much.
I am convinced one of the reasons we made it here is because our parents never got too angry when we threw board games and cards into the air whenever we lost a game. They never reprimanded us for crying in the car after every soccer game we lost (no matter how insignificant the game). One of the things that makes the Carolina soccer program so special is the way it values this competitive fire, where in many other places in society it is frowned upon. Being competitive is ultimately what helped two sisters from Mill Valley, Calif., make it to this special place. So thanks Mom and Dad, and thanks to Anson (Dorrance) and all the coaches here for giving us a place to thrive.
The father of Adelaide Gay, a UNC soccer alum, has a special quote that really resonates with me - “It is rare, indeed, when you are doing exactly what you want to do, with exactly the people you want to do it with, in exactly the place you want to be…in life, most people are happy when they just get one right, and two is like Heaven, and getting all three right could only happen in Chapel Hill.” I love this because it perfectly articulates what it means to be a Tar Heel and how grateful I am to call Chapel Hill my home away from home.
While I am only half way through my time here, it feels as though it is flying by. I am treasuring every day and will make the most out of the next two years, while knowing I will be a part of this Carolina family for life. Not a day goes by that I am not proud to be a Tar Heel, and that I am not thankful for all of your support. Singing Hark the Sound after victories with all of the fans in the stands at Fetzer Field will forever be some of my favorite memories as Tar Heel – so thank you for coming to our games and cheering us on. You are one of the reasons this place is so special!
Go Heels!
