Nyla H

Growing up, I have always been passionate about soccer. My dad grew up in England playing soccer and I have watched weekend soccer games with him ever since I was a child. From watching these games, I became fascinated with the tactics and styles associated with the game. I began playing soccer on a kid’s soccer team and even though I was far from it, I loved pretending like I was one of the soccer stars I saw on TV.

I played soccer in high school as well and thoroughly enjoyed the memories I made with my teammates and friends. I continue to watch soccer with my dad as we cheer on our favorite team. Whenever we visit family in England, we try to attend a game. We also attend Atlanta United games when we can. I have found that even people who don’t often watch soccer games enjoy attending Atlanta United games for the experience and atmosphere of a live soccer match.

In high school, I often played soccer with my friends during lunch. We would rush to finish our lunch so we could spend as much time outside playing our version of the World Cup. I also refereed soccer games after school for middle and high school students. It was part of a soccer tournament at my school where students formed different teams and donated money to charity. It was an opportunity for middle and high school students to compete together and foster a love of soccer in younger students. I loved being a part of the tournament and helping other kids find their own love for soccer just as I did at their age. Whether watching a game with my dad or playing with friends, soccer has always been a fundamental part of my life.