鈥淚t鈥檚 OK to dream. It鈥檚 OK to chase after what you want,鈥� said Joel Waterman, Canadian men鈥檚 national soccer team player, just days after returning home from the World Cup of Soccer in Qatar.

On Monday, Dec. 12, the defender visited Aldergrove Community Secondary School to speak to students and have his Team Canada jersey added to the school鈥檚 athletic wall of fame.

Waterman, who graduated from ACSS in 2014, stopped by the school to share his story and his experiences at the World Cup, as well as with a select group of students at Betty Gilbert Middle School later in the day.

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During the event, the 26-year-old member of Major League Soccer鈥檚 CF Montreal thanked his many teachers and coaches and took a handful of questions from students. Questions ranged from what his biggest challenges were en route to being selected for Canada鈥檚 national team, to what shoes he was wearing, to if he met superstar Neymar da Silva Santos J煤nior at the World Cup.

But the main message Waterman shared with students was that with hard work and sacrifice, it is possible to reach the pinnacle of your chosen field, whether it鈥檚 sports, academics, arts, or something else.

鈥淢y message for you guys today is to dream,鈥� he told a packed gymnasium. 鈥淣o matter who you are, where you come from or what you like to do, chase after something that brings you joy. All of you have special gifts and bring value in so many ways, and the world is waiting to see it.鈥�

鈥淭he next step is believing that. Being yourself and trusting your decisions to do it your way and not anyone else鈥檚. Surround yourself with people who build you up and believe in what you鈥檙e capable of, because this journey is even sweeter with the people you love. Once you have that, you can achieve something great.鈥�

鈥淚f I had listened to (people saying) 鈥榖e realistic鈥� then I would鈥檝e never represented my country at a World Cup,鈥� he added.

ACSS principal Mike Palichuk said that having someone of Waterman鈥檚 stature come to the school and speak with students 鈥� and mingle and take selfies with them afterward 鈥� is important because it provides a road map for them as they aim to achieve their own goals.

鈥淭he fact that a young guy, born and raised in Aldergrove, found his way, utilizing the opportunities that are available to him here, and made it to the world level, is remarkable,鈥� he said.

鈥淎nd we want to make sure our students understand that the same possibilities are available to them. I feel like it鈥檚 important to stop and reiterate that to students 鈥� you can do this too if you really, really want to, and if you sacrifice and do the things you need to do to get there.鈥�

Waterman鈥檚 MLS jersey was already hanging on the school鈥檚 athletic Wall of Fame, but the Montreal uniform has now been replaced by Waterman鈥檚 #26 Team Canada jersey. He鈥檚 the second Canadian national men鈥檚 team member to come from ACSS; school alum Randy Ragan was a member of the 1986 national team that is the only other Canadian men鈥檚 team to ever qualify for the World Cup.

Waterman said 鈥渋t was amazing鈥� to be at ACSS again, and to reconnect with a few former teachers.

He added that it meant a lot to him to know that the community was behind him as he and his teammates competed in Qatar, and he hoped his journey would continue to inspire.

鈥淚鈥檓 here because I want to show you guys that even a smalltown kid from Aldergrove, B.C., who walked these same halls and probably got in a lot more trouble than most of you, can make it and build something great,鈥� he told the students.