Eastern Michigan University senior Jessica Thomas, number 12, is a defender on the women’s soccer team.
Thomas is the lone senior on a very young Eagles roster and has huge ambitions for her future when her collegiate career winds down in the next month.
Thomas grew up in Calgary, Alberta in Canada, with two older brothers who played soccer.
“My mom tried to get me into dance when I was younger, but I was such a tomboy,” Thomas said.
Inspired by seeing her older brothers playing soccer, she decided to start playing at an early age.
“I knew at the age of five that I wanted to play soccer,” Thomas said.
Thomas looked at Trinity University and Western University in Canada and Middle Tennessee State University and the University of Buffalo before she chose to attend EMU.
Thomas said she ultimately chose EMU because of an outstanding, caring coaching staff and a scholarship opportunity that made her choice a no-brainer.
“I wanted to go as far away from home as I could because I was ready for a complete change of scenery from high school and an opportunity to play soccer on a high level,” Thomas said.
After being undeclared on her major for the first two years, Thomas decided last season to major in management, with human resources as her minor.
“I like working and talking to people,” Thomas said. “I have very good values and I feel it will go a long way in human resources or business.”
On track to graduate in April, Thomas plans to move down south to Orlando, Fla. to participate in the Disney College Internship Program.
“I haven’t had the opportunity to do an internship in college for my four years,” Thomas said. “Full-time school, full-time soccer leaves no time for anything else.”
Thomas is currently unsure of what she wants to be after graduating from EMU, but if she had to pick, she said she hopes to work in the human resources department of a business.
When she’s not in the classroom or on the soccer field, Thomas lives an active lifestyle by going hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter. She is also avid runner.
Because of her busy schedule and Calgary being so far away, Thomas does not go home often. She said she only goes home during Christmas break, spring break and during the summer.
Her greatest experience while being a part of the EMU soccer team has been making relationships with her teammates, which she said will last long after she hangs up the green and white jersey.
“My biggest improvement has been in my decision making and through my experiences on the field,” she said.
Thomas doesn’t watch much TV or movies, but enjoys watching soccer.
“[I like to watch] Fernando Torres of the Chelsea Football Club and the Spanish national team because he is a very attractive person and a great player,” she said. “Watching European soccer games can be a challenge because of most the games being played in the morning or afternoon.”
She said her favorite team is the U.S. women’s national soccer team because they have been so successful and they play beautiful soccer.
“Alex Morgan is my favorite because she is beautiful and is an awesome player to watch because of her skillset,” Thomas said.
Thomas’ favorite musical genres are house, techno and country music. She enjoys shopping and said her favorite stores are Aritzia, a trendy clothing store and Lululemon, an athletic attire store.
