DELAND, FLA – Most athletes carry a vibe with them on the playing field. It’s a mentality that pushes them.

If you ever see Anna Beal on a soccer pitch, you’ll notice a big smile on her face. She’s calm but in control.

“For me that’s how I produce my best work,” the DeLand High senior says. “It may seem like I’m not focused but that’s how I work through the mistakes I’ve made in practice and perfect them better on the field.”

It’s hard to argue with the philosophy. Beal is a three-time all-state soccer selection. The game has been good to her for the majority of her life. It’s time to say goodbye.

“It’s a good ending to a very long book,” Beal said. “I’m excited to close the chapter but I’m also scared at the same time.”

If you take a quick gander at Anna’s resume, her wild success on the pitch is just a small part of her schedule.

Beal is an active member of Student Leadership, Renaissance Club, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Tri-M, Science Honor Society, Student Government Association, FFA, KEY Club, Interact and Yearbook.

Did you get all of that? A busy schedule that doesn’t seem to affect Anna’s course load. She ranks near the top of her class academically. It’s the total body of work that makes her father, Lawrence Beal, Athletic Director for Volusia County, very proud.

“It’s conditioned and motivated her to be more well-rounded because of athletics,” Beal says. “It’s put her in a place where she’ll be very successful in college.”

For Anna the balance and success are motivated by one factor.

“I definitely would have to say my biggest drive is my fear of failure. I hate feeling like I’ve failed myself or I’ve failed other people.”

What she earned was her bright future.

“I’ve worked hard for this and it’s good seeing success come from all of it,” Beal says as she opens her box of acceptance from Stetson University. She plans to study biochemistry.

“It’ll be good when I get to the end and get my white coat to be a doctor or my scrubs in a hospital to be a nurse and help people out.”

Her exact plan isn’t finalized but the end result is all that matters.

“At the end of the day I love seeing how my contributions help other people going forward.”

Of course, she’ll do it with a smile on her face. In addition to her academic and athletic success, Anna is also an accomplished singer. She’s performed the national anthem at several local events.