It is safe to say that Helix Charter High School kicker Aubrey Laue does not take life for granted these days.

A senior, Laue dealt with a life-threatening health issue at an early age and kicked that to the curb over time.

Whether facing a serious health scare, playing sports or being active with ASB, studying in her final year of high school, being quite active in and out of school, Laue is not one to sit around and let life pass her by.

Laue was a young child when faced with congenital heart disease. Needing emergency open heart surgery, Laue came through that and is a healthy young woman today, making a point of it to be active and encourage others facing similar circumstances.

When she is spending Friday evenings as the varsity kicker for the football team, Laue is doing something she loves.

“This season hasn’t been easy, we’re currently 2-3 but we’re keeping a positive outlook on the rest of the season,” Laue said. “But I would definitely say that this season has been my favorite one so far. I’ve already created so many memories on and off the field and I can’t wait for more. We’re already halfway through the season and it’s gone by so fast. I’m just trying to capture every moment.”

As anyone who has kicked for a football team knows, the job comes with way fewer hits, but the pressure can be ramped up way more than other positions on the team. Having to nail a game-winning field goal or extra point is not for the faint of heart.

“Usuallyhow this goes is when we score I get super excited cause we scored and I’m happy for my teammates,” Laue remarked. “But then as I’m running on the field I usually am telling myself ‘I got this’ or something along the lines of ‘Just kick it like how you do in practice, there’s no difference’. So I go to the spot where I’m going to kick and I can hear the crowd cheering and all the noises from the players in front of me. I set up and look at my holder, Jerome Stevens, I take a deep breath and block out all the noise and get in my zone. I give him a nod letting him know I’m ready to kick. He signals for the ball to be snapped and then I kick it and I wait to see if it goes through.”

Teammates have embraced the only girl on the team

Being the only girl on the team, one might wonder how Laue’s teammates have taken to her.

“When I first joined the team I was nervous that the guys on the team wouldn’t like me,” Laue remarked. “And at first it was a little awkward but over time they have warmed up to me and they’re just amazing. They have definitely embraced me and treat me as one of their own teammates and have no doubt in my ability to kick. I am so lucky to have such amazing teammates, I truly appreciate and love all of them. The coaches are also super supportive and welcoming. Our head coach, Coach Damaja, was actually my P.E. teacher my freshman year and that’s how I met him. He never doubted me, all of the other coaches are nice too.”

Anyone going through such a serious health scare would be rattled, but it may have helped Laue that she was so young when it happened. As such, her memories of it are limited to a degree. Turning the clock forward, Laue said she does not pass up the opportunities to soak in all life has to offer.

“My condition has definitely taught me to not take things for granted and appreciate what is around me,” Laue commented. “My condition was really serious as a kid and we weren’t sure how long I would be around. So I started to look at things differently and appreciate the little things.”

Laue has made it a point to provide advice and encouragement for other kids dealing with what she faced at such a young age. She has spent time at Camp del Corazon on Catalina Island where youngsters can go to be around other kids dealing with similar heart challenges.

For other kids going through what Laue did with her heart condition, what advice does she have for them with wanting to play sports and everyday life in general?

Don’t let a health condition get in your way

“I would tell them to do sports, but obviously check with their doctor first,” Laue commented. “I was lucky enough to be cleared and encouraged by my cardiologist to play sports but I would tell them to do it or even if they can’t do it, get involved somehow. You don’t have to be a player to be involved with a sports team, you can be a manager or an assistant coach. But in general I would tell a kid to be proud of their condition. I know multiple people and kids who were insecure about it, it made them feel different and like an outcast. But I say it’s good to be different, it makes you who you are, and you should be proud of that.”

While still enjoying all high school has to offer and looking at college down the road, Laue said her goal is to ultimately become a pediatric cardiologist.

“Yes, I feel as a pediatric cardiologist I will be able to give back to others,” Laue went on to say. “But it also gives those kids someone to look up to, they will be able to see someone who has gone through a similar experience and know that it will be alright and they can do anything they put their mind to. One of the doctors at the summer camp I attend every year for kids and teens with congenital heart disease, has a congenital heart defect and he is such an amazing person and doctor. He inspires and helps so many people and I aspire to be like him one day.”

With her senior year likely to fly by quickly, Laue doesn’t want to miss a moment of it.

“I have loved being a member of the Helix community for the past few years,” Laue stated. “I appreciate the people who are a part of the community. Whether they are an active member at Helix or connected in some other way. I have definitely felt support from my fellow classmates, teachers, admin, and other member’s of this community. They all definitely follow the motto ‘Once a Scottie, always a Scottie’. I’m looking forward to always being a part of the Helix community even once I have graduated.”

If you get the impression Laue is a busy young woman, you nailed it. She was asked how she manages to cram so much into a day on a regular basis.

“To be honest, I don’t even know,” Laue said. “I like to keep myself busy, I’ve had a busy schedule since before I can remember. I also want to make an impact and I feel like I have enjoyed my high school years a lot more because I have been involved in so much stuff. I’ve also met some of my greatest friends through these activities and I don’t regret doing it.”

Head coach appreciates all Laue brings to the team

Someone else who has no regrets when it comes to Laue being a member of the varsity football team is Helix High Head Football Coach and Phys Ed Teacher Damaja Jones.

“Aubrey has had a great impact on our team,” Jones stated. “She does everything that we ask from all players on the team. When we first started our off-season program she started lifting in January at 6:30. She attends every practice even if it’s not her day to kick because we rotate special team days. She is involved with all the team meals, and involved in our summer bonding period etc… I think that has played a large role in why she is fully accepted on the team. She fits in like every player and doesn’t want to be treated any different.”

Like all the staff and players, Jones said he believes in Laue’s kicking abilities.

“I always talk about three phases of a game: Offense, Defense, and Special Teams,” Jones went on to say. “You have to win two out of three phases to win the game. The kicking game is a huge phase that gets less opportunities but has a similar impact. Most games will have 100+ plays in it. However there might only be 15 special teams played total in the whole game. We emphasize during the week the importance of winning those 15 plays so we can have a chance to win the game. Aubrey and the other specialist understand that they get few opportunities but the impact of those opportunities matter as much as an offensive or defensive play.”

When it comes to having an impact on and off the football field, Aubrey Laue has her heart in it.

Top photo credit: Manorack Sukhaseum – instagram.com/manorack_photography/.