Personal Narrative: Why I Love Soccer

Growing up in a house with all boys in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, I was taught to be tough and injuries were very common but easily shaken off. When it came to sports, I would put all my time and effort into one thing: soccer. Soccer was always a true passion of mine; as a matter of fact, it was more of a lifestyle than just a sport. I would spend weekends traveling around my local area playing the game I loved with people I enjoyed being with. My teammates became like my second family after countless seasons and we did almost everything together off the soccer field. The idea of putting on my jersey and lacing up my cleats was a moment I would not trade for the world and something I would never take for granted.

Well for me, football is my top favorite sport. When I was in school, I had a problem with authority, and teachers would often make me mad. I tried hard to control my aggression, frustration, and anger. I jumped into drugs and cigarettes to fights and gangs. Because nothing I tried worked, I went to football tryouts. I felt happy and excited for the first time in a long time; I eventually got on the field and ran and ran.

Growing up I had focused on competitive soccer. Soccer challenged me both physically and mentally and I learned to love these demands on the field. These challenges helped me foster a self-confidence in myself when it came to athletics. When I fractured my tibia playing against my rival high school, sending my knee cap into my thigh, I was faced with a new test. The sport that I loved was taken away from me for an extended period of time and it took away part of my identity. Who was I without soccer?

My life revolves around 3 important things that keep me going everyday, family, soccer, and fashion . My family is very important to me because I know that no matter what happens they will always have my back. My family follows loyalty because we feel as if nobody should be left behind. I remember the day I came home to my parents arguing which led to my mother packing all our stuff to get out the house as soon as possible which was all so scary and confusing to me. We then just drove around and parked in front of a church to see how the night would end. As I was growing up, I had to learn to mature quicker not because I wanted to but because I had to. I had to leave me childhood fun to help my mother and siblings find brighter days. The day I remember I had to be the man of the house because someone who had that job before me couldn't handle it. I learned to not rely on everyone all the time because when you need them the most they won't be there. My parents divorced at a young age right before my little sister was born which all happened so quick for me however since that day I will never forget because it changed my life in a blink of an eye. Within time I learned it was for the best and it only made me wiser because I knew the mistakes and I

I was told that on the day of my birth, the operating room was overcrowded with medical staff, bright

When I was eight years old, I played my first season of soccer. The real reason I played soccer was because my dad forced me to play. I loved to play all kinds of sports such as basketball, baseball and football but I was never interested in soccer. After my first practice I already realized soccer was not for me. I told my dad that I did not want to play anymore but he would not listen and made me keep going to practice. At my 3rd practice, the whole team was running laps and I tripped over a stick and fell down. My ankle was hurting pretty bad but I knew I was going to be fine. While I was lying on the ground, I thought to myself If I tell the coach and my dad that my ankle is hurt really bad than I won’t have to play anymore. I thought it was a genius idea at the time. I told them just that and it worked! I have no idea how my dad knew this but once I got home he knew that I was milking my injury. He told me something that night that I won’t ever forget. He told me “you didn’t just give up on yourself, you gave up on your team”. He called the coach the next day and told him that

I pulled my red socks up over my right shin guard, then my left. I slipped on my shoes, making sure they were knotted extra tight so they would not come undone. After I brushed my hair back into a ponytail and fixed my headband, I was ready. On the bus, everyone chattered about the upcoming game, music blaring, loud with excitement. The game featured my soccer team, Oak Hills, and one of our rivals, Ursula. Ursula, known for their great passing and winning record, was very well going to be one of the hardest teams we had to play. But, we were prepared and nothing could stop us.

would consider myself to be an athletic person, I always have been. I have been played many sports throughout my life beginning all the way back to before kindergarten. They have been a huge part of my life and I have learned so much. These games have influenced my life in many ways and I am grateful for all the opportunities I have been given. I have played many sports including soccer, volleyball, and basketball.

Nine years ago I watched my very first football game, and I was fascinated by the quote from Vince Lombardi, “Football is like life, it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority.”So the succeeding year, I requested if I could do football and my grandpa said to me “Son if you want to play football, play on the line, and play on defense it is going to take dedication and determination, and you have to practice every day, do calisthenics every day, and most of all learn about how to play on the line of scrimmage.”

Soccer is my favorite sport. I started playing soccer when I was five years old. My dad coached my team, as well as all of my other brothers, up until we became ten. By that time I went to tryouts for club. WSA was a great club, and that’s where I started my advanced competition soccer. I made it to a select level team, and it was a great first year. I met knew people and we played tournaments in the summer, but had regular season games in the fall. I was on U-11 which meant Under 11. I continued playing with WSA from U-11, my first year, to U-14 when they merged with the Timbers. When I was playing at U-14 the club was completely different. Much bigger, many knew faces, players and coaches. I had stayed on the same team all of those years

Soccer and a park, throw in some friends and it magically becomes fun. I can tell you this without a doubt because I did this myself on Friday. When I got to Emerald Glen, I saw that Vince, Justin, their dad, and Matthew were already there playing soccer on the grass field by the skate park. I went ahead and joined them, and we did some simple offense and defense drills. After a few minutes of that, Vince and I played a weird little game that seemed like a soccer version of volleyball while Justin, his dad, and Matthew kicked the ball around to each other. While we were playing our soccer volleyball game, me and Vince talked about random little things like how there’s a Fawaz A and Fawaz B, But there isn’t a Fawaz C or D. Later, we took turns at the goal while the others kicked.

I’ve been playing soccer a long time, longer than i remember. My dad says i've played since I was four. Despite that, as a freshman in highschool I still wasn't very good. id simply drifted through ten years worth of summer and fall leagues, only picking up enough skill to become the captain of my school's C team.

I was walking down the field on the soaked soccer pitch towards my team. I saw that they were already stretching,

Soccer is my favorite sport because I feel good when I play it. I love to do exercise and practice sports, but I mostly like soccer. Practicing it is the best part of my day. I really enjoy playing it.

Have you ever wanted to keep going even though there was a risk? Playing football was always what I wanted to do. I wanted to make it to the professional league and enjoy playing football. Then I hit my head and I had to modify my view on things. I had to let my dream fall back while I took on things that would last longer in life, like education, even though I didn’t want to, I did it because it’s the best for me. I’ll always be able to play football, but I won’t always be able to gain the same knowledge.