contests

Winners for 2023

1st Place: Parisa Wazir

I  Love Kicking Balls

I used to watch from the side lines while my friends played like stars. An immigrant family, sports was not on our financial radar. I’d admire the colourful jerseys, the cleats and skills from afar. 

I longed to play and always imagined myself dramatically running past the defence. I would make soccer balls out of aluminum and play by myself.  I imagined the colour of my cleats gleaming green against the turf grass. I would practice my running, I wanted to be really fast. 

Finally the day came where I got to play for fun. The boys were mean so I shrunk myself playing a position I knew for me wasn’t the one. I realized my confidence was so low. I doubted that I could ever even score a goal. And so I removed myself and played other sports.

That’s until I found the Spartan cohorts. The league was so welcoming and Teo was the best. 

They encouraged me and cheered for me until I once again found my zest. I grew into a forward, I started scoring goals and making moves. But most importantly I found a supportive, crazy fun place where regardless of the score I couldn’t lose. 

Soccer became my happy place above all.

And so I let loose and never since have I stopped kicking balls.