Breaking Barriers: A Soccer Journey

I have always been fast. Faster than the neighborhood kids, faster than my classmates at school, faster than the doubts that tried to slow me down. Ever since I could remember, soccer had been more than just a game; it was a part of my identity, woven into every muscle, every breath, every dream.

Growing up in Puerto Rico, I played anywhere I could—barefoot in the streets, on uneven dirt patches. I didn’t have the luxury of fancy training or private coaches, but I had something more important: a relentless hunger and drive.

But talent and hard work aren't always enough.

As I'm getting older, the reality of my situation set in. Opportunities existed, but they all came with a price: flights to trials, tournament fees, expensive gear. Mostly, my mom supported me in every way she could, but money was tight, and soccer wasn’t cheap. College came, and I found a way to keep playing at Southern Union, proving myself among the best, but the dream of going pro still felt just out of reach. Other players had sponsors or families who could afford to invest in their futures. I just have myself and raw determination, and the fact that I cannot give up.

There were nights I lay in bed, wondering if the dream was slipping away. But every morning, I worked for this dream, because quitting wasn’t an option. If I have to run faster, work harder, and fight longer than the rest, so be it.

I didn’t know where this path would lead, but I know one thing for sure: the kid who once played barefoot in the streets of Puerto Rico wasn’t done chasing his dream.

And he never would be. I will prove that I will be the best.