Over two decades ago, I arrived in this country not knowing anything about the United States culture. I had to learn the language, the customs and the norms. The first 2 years were the toughest. I spent most of that time isolated and wanting to go back to my home country.

Luckily, with the help of a ball and knowing how to play soccer, I started to make a few friends without having to speak much English. While I couldn’t afford the cost of playing in a soccer club nor having much parental support to play in a team, I still found ways to play - from spending countless hours kicking the ball against a huge wooden wall in my local playground to skipping many lunch meals in school to play during lunch time. 

As I got older, soccer became a great way to network with people with various backgrounds and cultures. My passion for soccer grew, which gave me the courage to co-found Bay Area Dynamo and lead many of its coed and women’s teams. Through these teams, I am able to share a lot of life lessons that soccer has taught me with my current students, former students and players. For example, patience, perseverance, and effective communication. It has been an essential part of the way I advise and support first-generation students, shaping my teaching, mentoring, managerial, and leadership style. 

These experiences ultimately led me to join the Soccer Without Borders (SWB) organization. I strongly believe in its mission, which is “to use soccer as a vehicle for positive change, providing under-served youth with a toolkit to overcome obstacles to growth, inclusion, and personal success.” 

As a Program Coordinator for SWB, I will be serving youth that recently came to this country as newcomers, refugees or asylum seekers. I will be able to provide the support that I was yearning in my early years in the U.S.

Help me make a difference by making a contribution today!