Why Do Nascimento?

Since Sam was a little girl, she had a passion for soccer and dreamed of becoming a professional one day. For Samantha, Saturday was not just a regular day, it was game day and Sam was so excited, as usual. She jumped out of her car and ran on to the field as she would usually do. She talked with her friends, warmed up, and was preparing herself for the game. Little did she know, this game was going to be much different than any other

Let me introduce to you, Tyler Martin. This ninth-grader is not only an amazing student with a thrive to pass ninth grade with flying colors, he’s an even more impressive athlete who has a passion for the sport he plays. While he continuously works on his academics, his persistence never seems to stop when it comes down to his favorite sport, soccer. Nothing seems to slow him down, not work loaded onto his plate, not an injury, and certainly not competition. If anything, competition makes him try harder, encouraging him to be the best. Everyone loves to win but to want to be the best? That requires a reason, a reason like wanting to make someone proud. Tyler’s reason happens to be his father, the man creating the passion for sports that Tyler

The sport of soccer, in Brazil is considered a people’s game,it started as a white players sport and then moved to blacks. The country had a complex national identity, made up of all different racial groups; soccer was the one thing that Brazilians could identify with. The poor Brazilians found self-worth in soccer much like the lower-class in Peru. For many Brazilians the sport derived from overcoming poverty, the poor turned to this sport

Many of the young boys start learning the fundamentals of the game at a very young age. There is another reason why Brazil soccer develops in the streets of Brazil. The international Brazilian soccer players have decided each in their own way to present the youth of Brazil to soccer. They plant the seed that it is possible for them as well. This is seen by the integration that soccer has in the lives of the youth. Every child who learns to play Brazil soccer has the chance to lead a better life than many can imagine. The teams with the largest number of supporters in Brazil are also three of the ones that won the most competitions. They are Flamengo, Corinthians and Sao Paulo. Of course, many of the young players also dream of becoming world class soccer players because of the money that can be earned from this game. However, it was every Brazilian's dream come true when it was announced that the country would be hosting the World Cup once again in 2014. It was not only good from a soccer and passion point of view, but also for the country's economy. So the next time that you watch a game of Brazil soccer looks at the faces of these young

Soccer is something every kid plays, it’s the staple game of the world; but to me, soccer was more than just a childhood activity. Playing soccer has taught me many valuable lessons but the most important lesson was that it wasn’t about the trophy, it was about the practices, it was about the teammates. When the end of the season came around, it didn’t matter if we had won or not; we had grown as soccer players and as a team,

“I’m the best in the game,” said my seven year old self. I’ve played soccer for most of my life and was in the car on the way to a game. That day was foggy and wet; our

Although I aspired to thrive, I found myself defeated. As a teenager, I was hard on myself because the only way to transform my parents’ aspirations into reality was to excel in soccer. But as my mother encouraged me with her soft words, I felt those dreams dissipate once I was benched every game as a member of the junior varsity soccer team in high school. In a sense, I understood

At the age of 5 I was given my first pair of Velcro-cleats. Back then; it wasn’t about getting an All-Conference Title, or wining a full scholarship to the school of your dreams. It was simply about having fun. By the age of 12, I was being developed and shaped into a player that would have a successful future with soccer, and would hopefully receive scholarships. But, that future for me crumbled by the time I was 16. I don’t know what happened over those 4 years, but I simply lost the joy in playing. It became more of an obligation to go to

Everyone has that certain thing that makes them who they are. That certain thing for me is soccer. It’s my hobby, my biggest interest, and my passion. Soccer isn’t just a sport for me, it’s my life. It has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I have played the intriguing game of soccer since I was four years old, and I have loved it ever since.

Since I can remember, I’ve always played soccer. Whether it was kicking the ball around my kitchen and dining room (this didn’t go over well with my mother) or playing on a youth team, club team, or school team, soccer has always flowed through my veins and helped prepare me for the challenges I faced ahead. These early experiences foreshadowed my maturity and growth through soccer.

Constant running and never ending judgement from those around me. Yet, this did not make me stop. I challenged my teammates and coaches belief that I could not play and quickly became one of the most used players on the team. I nearly made the varsity team and started several games on Junior Varsity. I played amongst those who doubted me and became one of them. I became a soccer player, I learned to lead those around me, adapt to an environment I had yet to encounter, and how to change people’s opinion about me. It was the proudest moment of my adolescent life when the coach said an amazing heartfelt speech about how I would challenge both him and myself everyday at practice because I wanted to prove to those surrounding me I deserved to be playing on the pitch amongst them. The decision I made to go out for a sport I had never played my junior year of high school is by far the turning point of my life, I truly believe it changed me and gave me another dimension to my complex personality. I gave me an experience unlike that of any other person because I am not a natural athlete, I am just a child who has been doubted but has destroyed that doubt over and over

As I stepped onto the field preparing to be a ball boy, I could feel my heart pounding inside me. When I spotted the players walking to the field, I was nervous and super excited at the same time. I had been deliberating what I should or should not do before the onset of the game. For example, if our team (Atlanta United) was winning, I would take a moment to slow the game down. On the other hand, if the opposite team was winning, I would demand of myself to be nimble and get the ball back into play as soon as possible. Finally, my dream of being a ball boy for a major league soccer team was becoming a reality.

Primarily, a teengers vision for soccer can change in a matter of seconds. As a soccer player reaches the teenage years there are many threats one faces. For example, when I interviewed my friend, a soccer player, who plays for Los Xolos de Tijuana gave very concrete perspectives. One perspective he gave me is that he did not let anyone blind his dream. I think this is very important because many players let themselves be influenced by his surroundings.

Edson Arantes do Nascimento or Pelé, was born on October 23, 1940, in Três Coraçōes, Brazil. Pelé began playing at the age of five and later joined the Santos professional soccer team at the age of sixteen. After his first full season at Santos, he was recruited by the Brazilian national team. Pelé was officially introduced to the world in the 1958 World Cup, where he scored three goals in the semifinals and two goals in the finals to help Brazil beat the host country. "I told myself before the game, he is made of skin and bones just like everyone else.

As a freshman I know it is important to make goals for myself to get through high school. I must also set goals in my personal life and my career. Setting goals now can help me be what I want to become. With goals I know that I must plan ahead for college and my future career. If I plan ahead now I will be able to turn my dreams into realities.