On Feb 8th, we invited community members to enter a writing contest. The challenge:

“Is there someone you know of who deserves to be recognized as a transformational leader in the American soccer community or elsewhere? Someone who has balanced the arts of playing and living beautifully?”

We are proud to introduce Lillianna Franco; a student at Northwestern who set out to master the beautiful game and, in her persuit, learned the infinitely superior art of living beautifully.

Lillianna & her family after her final game w/ Morton High

DEAR ONELOVE,

I stumbled upon your website and it really caught my eye. Finally, someone on this planet sees soccer as not just a sport but something that is simply a beautiful part of life. I have to admit when I read about the contest, I only thought about myself, especially after I read… “Someone who has balanced the art of playing and living beautifully?” I said to myself, “Oh come on, Lilly! You cannot be selfish; you know there are so many people out there that deserve this recognition!” I took out a pen and paper and started to write down names of friends and family who love the game and are wonderful human beings. My father in particular stuck out to me- a man who played professionally in Mexico back in the day, and now coaches at a community college. More than anything, he is my inspiration because he sees his job, as a coach, not just to teach his young men to be great players but also to become responsible by encouraging their education.

At this point, I bet you are thinking… “So, she is nominating her father!” And that is what I was thinking too, but something in my heart told me to share my own story.
A story about facing adversity and turning to soccer to find my peace. A story that could make you cry and smile all at once. A story about finding the true meaning of soccer…

Growing up, I was the only girl on all of my club soccer teams. Soon, I became older and it was difficult for me to continue to play in co-ed teams in my community because they just didn’t exist for older youth. I so badly wanted to continue playing and even dreamed of becoming a professional soccer player. So, I began to beg my parents to take me to play with girls two towns over from mine. Of course, this is when I tell you that I lived in a lower to middle class area outside of Chicago and that the other town was a typical suburban rich and upscale community- where girls club soccer teams were privately afforded, or in other words afforded by their wealthy parents.

on her first all-girls club team

Although my parents would have to commit to an hour and a half commute to take me to practice three times a week and to games, they decided that if it was going to make me happy they should allow it. Once I was at tryouts, I stuck out like a sore thumb. All of the girls were tall, blond and had the best soccer shoes. I, on the other hand, was short with dark black hair and had hand-me-down shoes. These girls quickly began to look down on me and once I told them where I was from and that I went to a public school (unlike them), they began to treat me like an outsider. I was embarrassed but I quickly reminded myself of the real reason why I was there. I WAS THERE TO DO WHAT I COULDN’T DO BACK HOME. PLAY WITH ALL MY HEART. I knew I was good and even after seeing them do a few drills, I knew I could do just as well as them. Putting all negative energy aside, I tried out and amazed the coaches. That afternoon they offered me a spot on the team. I could not have been happier.

However, my happiness was quickly taken away when they began to talk to my parents about the costs. To be honest, I believed that my dream would end there. On our car ride back home, my parents were quiet and so was I. I knew that they wanted to tell me that we couldn’t afford it, so I just stayed quiet. My father looked back at me and said, “You did well out there today.” I looked at him and said, “It is okay if I can’t play there. I don’t need to play there. Plus, soccer can be played anywhere. Isn’t that what you always tell me?” I saw my father’s eyes fill with sympathy. He looked at me and remained quiet. That night before bed, my father came into my room to tuck me in and gave me the best news in the world; he told me my mother and he were going to work things out so that I could play there but only if I kept my grades up.

For the next few years, I played with teammates that thought less of me but I was so happy to be there, to play soccer that I didn’t care. I, unlike them, knew what it felt like to be limited and didn’t take opportunities like this for granted. Those next few years were also the years in which I noticed how much my parents loved me. My parents worked full time jobs; it was difficult to make ends meet at home and my parents would occasionally have to drive to the side of the road to take a short nap while driving back from my practice or games. Inside, I felt guilt. However, I knew they thought it was worth it because on that field I shined and they smiled.

High school came before I knew it. I would wake up at 5am everyday and practice right until it was time to go to school. After school, I would go to soccer practice. After practice, I would finish my homework and go to sleep only to wake up and do it all over again. I was so determined to become THE BEST that nothing else mattered to me. I dreamed of going on to play division I college soccer. Sadly, my high school soccer coach didn’t believe I could get into a college at all. I went to a predominately Hispanic high school where many dropped out. I told my father about my dream and he told me that I could do anything I wanted as long as I practiced, practiced and practiced. He also added that if I wanted to play college ball, I needed to be amazing in school. So, I dedicated my life to my education and soccer.

Thankfully, I applied to 10 schools and got into all 10 of them. I even challenged myself and applied to a school that I never thought I would get in to- NORTHWESTERN. Once I got accepted, although I was happy, I knew I couldn’t afford this school or any school for that matter. But I wasn’t about to let all my work go down the drain, so I applied to many scholarships and yes, I got a few; including one that would cover almost everything. At that point, I saw my dream of becoming a professional soccer player as a true possibility.

Once I got on campus I began playing with the Woman’s Club Soccer Team but soon I decided to try out for the Varsity soccer team; for me, it was now-or-never. Once tryouts came around in the winter, I signed up. I went to get my physical and although I wish I could tell you everything went well, it didn’t. I was told something was wrong with my knee. I soon got an MRI and found out that I had been playing soccer for years with a torn ACL. At that moment, my life turned from a dream-come-true into a nightmare. I soon got surgery and convinced myself that the next year I would try out again.

Rehabilitation was rough, but a year later, there I was- ready to tryout again and make my dreams come true. This time, I actually made it through the physical and was on the turf field. I began practice with them and was doing pretty well until my other ACL tore. At that moment, I didn’t want to give up because I thought that this would be my last opportunity. So, I gathered all my guts and got up and kept playing. Soon, I began to feel a horrible pain and my knee grew to the size of a softball. That winter I received my second ACL repair on the other leg.

Lillianna w/ the women’s club team at Northwestern University

At this point, I was so depressed. I didn’t understand why God would make me fall in love with this game and my dream and then take it all away from me in an instant. It took another year to rehabilitate my other knee and it wasn’t until yesterday that I began to play like myself once again. It was yesterday that I fell in love with this beautiful game again. This entire struggle has taught me an important lesson. Life is about balance; the balance between playing and living.

I spent my entire life focusing on soccer to shield away all the bad in my life and to find peace. However, I have learned that I, myself, had to focus on my life and my peace to find the real meaning of soccer. I could have spent my life believing and challenging myself, instead I spent it limiting and doubting myself because of my gender, race, and economic status. Now, I see soccer as much more than just a pastime or a life-defining activity. I see it as a beautiful addition to my already beautiful life.

I am sure many can learn from my story. Unfortunately, there are many youth and adults out there that still don’t believe in themselves. To those people I say this… Even if you are 80 and can’t play anymore, be sure to know that soccer isn’t about the players who play; it’s about the players who live. Even if you are 12, be sure to know that you CAN be the next Pele or Mia Hamm, if you want, because soccer is about the possibilities, not the impossibilities.

I share my message with the youth whenever I get the chance and encourage them to engage in sports and after school activities because I truly believe it motivates them to take advantage of their education. I am now looking to finish my degree in Communications at Northwestern University; and I believe I have been very blessed. I guess you could say that soccer (and my parents’ support) brought me this far and has always encouraged me to keep going. Because of that, I have decided to keep playing, to enjoy the game, to love the game, but above all to PLAY WITH ALL MY HEART.

I know this has nothing to do with the contest and I don’t think I have any leadership in my community but I do know that if we all shared a message of positive thinking and believing in one’s self we would all be able to find our own true meaning of soccer. I challenge you to find your own true meaning of soccer. Once you do, you will find the meaning of life.

Thanks for reading! And thanks for creating ONELOVE- a community that truly teaches soccer players what it means to play beautifully and in balance with life.

Sincerely,
Lillianna Franco