17-Year-Old Goes Pro While Still in High School

At 17, most high school students are thinking about prom and college applications, but Pia Vlok is scoring goals in professional soccer while juggling her studies and medical school dreams.

The Auckland teen signed a three-year contract with Wellington Phoenix last year, becoming one of the youngest players in the A-League competition. She got the news while playing in Tahiti, where her Auckland United team had just won the OFC Women's Champions League.

"I thought it might be for the academy, I kind of couldn't believe it was for the pro team," Vlok says. She moved to Wellington as a year 12 student, leaving home to chase her soccer dreams without giving up on education.

Now she lives at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport alongside teammates and other young athletes. This year she'll attend the New Zealand Performance Academy Aotearoa, a new school designed specifically for student athletes finishing their education.

The transition to professional women's soccer has been intense for Vlok, who spent most of her career playing on boys' teams. "It's way more physical," she admits, though she represented New Zealand at the FIFA U17 Women's World Cup and was named best player at the 2024 OFC U16 championships.

Her first day with Phoenix felt surreal. "A lot of the players here I've looked up to for ages, and watched them playing for the Ferns," she says.

Working under head coach Bev Priestman has accelerated her growth as a player. When injuries sidelined experienced teammates, Vlok got unexpected starting opportunities that she never imagined would come so soon.

Why This Inspires

In their recent 2-0 victory over Canberra United, both Phoenix goals came from teenagers. Vlok scored her second goal of the season in the final minutes after spotting the opposing goalkeeper out of position.

But soccer isn't her only ambition. "I've always wanted to be a doctor," Vlok explains, though she acknowledges the challenge of balancing that path with professional sports.

She's currently exploring health-related fields while keeping medical school as a long-term possibility. Her school is specifically designed to help athletes like her pursue both dreams without sacrificing either.

At an age when most students are just starting to figure out their futures, Vlok is already living hers at full speed. She proves that young people don't have to choose between their passions when they have the right support system and determination to make both work.