Moving to a new community is challenging for anyone, but it can be especially difficult for a teenager. Walking into Ames Middle school as an 8th grader, she was surrounded by unfamiliar faces. However there was one thing that was familiar, the soccer field.
For Lucy Socia, soccer has been a meaningful part of her life. She has been playing for 12 years, and has grown up around the game, as her dad is also a soccer coach. As she stepped onto the field for the first time with a new team, she knew what to expect for the game, but not for all her new teammates and coaches. She immediately felt welcomed by this new community. For Lucy soccer is something she is and has always been passionate about. And for the soccer community, that is one thing everyone has in common.
Since Lucy moved her we have both connected over soccer, and also our background within the sport. I have grown up around the sport, with my brother playing, and my dad coaching. I have seen the time and passion that these people pour into making this community as strong as it is. I had the opportunity to go to London over spring break, where I saw a few professional matches. It really opens your eyes to how much people in this community care about this sport, and it really shows how much a game can bring people together.