Howdy! My name is Stephanie Ciceri. I am a 22-year-old graduate of UCLA, and an LA native. While I grew up in Los Angeles, my home and culture were very much Latin American. I have a Colombian father as well as a Brazilian mother. Both immigrated to the United States during their late adolescence to pursue a better life in America. For my parents, soccer is more than just a sport; it is a cultural component of their lives. In other words, it isn’t just a sport you can pick up as a kid, but rather an art form you are taught as soon as you can walk. It was soccer that brought communities together in my parents’ day because it was an activity that transcended daily life and allowed people to share a common interest and passion.

As a child, my dad made many attempts to get me more involved in sports, but I often refused, choosing my Barbies over soccer balls. It wasn’t until my dad took my little brother to a soccer camp that I changed my mind. From there, I had a natural affinity and aptitude for sports. My Latin American background perhaps offered a natural athletic ability that enabled me to get new things quickly. Although still devoted to my barbies, I enjoyed racing the boys at school; I was eager to prove my competitiveness. So, as I watched my brother play soccer, I felt that I had to prove I was better than him; my competitive nature was sparked. For the next ten years, soccer became the center of my life; it became my identity. 

Initially, I chose to participate in the sport. However, as I grew older, it became less my decision and more my father’s. My early years in soccer were a BLAST! I loved every minute of it, especially when on the All-Star team. As I became a member of that team, I felt like I had a second family, a sense of community that I needed more than I realized. 

I continued to play soccer as long as possible, and although not every experience was as fun as my first one with my teammates, I learned a lot through those experiences. Sports can offer a lot to a younger person growing up; traits like perseverance, resilience, and humility are all significant parts of being in sports. A major lesson for me was learning to decide what I wanted to do and take ownership of those decisions.

Each of us has the right to learn from our own experiences, yes, be guided by our parents, coaches, or teachers. Guidance can point us in the right direction, but it is up to each individual to choose which path to follow and at what pace to go. Whether or not kids participate in a particular activity is up to them, and I believe adult role models should encourage them to do their best, even if it is not what we would do ourselves. I aim to make every child who chooses to play soccer feel comfortable and enjoy the experience. Soccer should be a positive and exciting activity for all kids, and I am committed to making it so. I hope to see you on the field!