What I Learned by Supporting My Soccer Teammates by Kai

What I Learned by Supporting My Soccer Teammates by Kai - March 2026 Scholarship Essay

My top-tier MLS/Next soccer team is situated amidst a melting pot of cultures. The languages spoken on my team: Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, and Arabic. Most of my teammates are either immigrants or first-generation Americans.

Because so many of my teammates come from diverse, often low income, backgrounds, it is difficult for them to learn in school. Since they attend large public schools, lessons are taught quickly in English, and they don’t get much 1-on-1 help from the teacher. Most often, their parents have limited math skills so they can’t help.

Having to grasp concepts in school in a language much different than the one you grew up with or speak at home makes learning confusing and very slow. Due to this barrier, many of my teammates, who are very intelligent, struggle to get good grades. So, excelling at school is out of their control.

At soccer practice, I would hear some teammates complain about not doing well on a math test or quiz and discuss how hard it is. Since I am a couple years ahead in math, I knew I could help them with whatever they needed in their math classes.

I would set up Zoom meetings or come a little bit earlier to soccer, to practice math problems and help them 1-on-1, a luxury they never got in school. Through my patience and consistent support, I was able to help several slowly get their math grades up in a way that would not otherwise have happened if they had only relied on what they learned during class time.

It made me happy that I was able to help my teammates…friends to excel. It also made me realize about how far I was able to get ahead because of all the people who have helped me along the way. Many friends and mentors, like my soccer coaches, my history, math, and physics teachers, and many others who were there for me and supported me. They made it so I could get to the place of success I am at today. I am grateful for those people, and I’m glad I have been able to do the same thing for my teammates.