Street Soccer USA Participant and Coach “Takes the Space” On and Off the Pitch
Andres Mejia Perez immigrated to the United States from Guatemala 5 years ago ready to make a new life for himself. Due to financial challenges and limited resources upon arrival, he ended up moving to an underserved community in San Francisco. A community where drug use, violence, crime rates and lack of access to education makes it difficult for the individuals to break out of the cycle of poverty. As a first-generation college student, he knew he has his work cut out for him as he began his educational journey with hopes to financially support himself and his family.
Andres enrolled at SF International High School, a school in San Francisco with a unique program designed for recent immigrant students who have attended school in the United States for four years or less. After settling into a new school and lifestyle, Andres was encouraged by the staff on site to join the SSUSA Community Club with many peers from his high school. Prior to moving to the United States, soccer was Andres escape, his way to express himself to those around him. This SSUSA Community Club was his chance to feel that comfort again and share in the beauty of the game with his new community.
Right off the bat his teammates struggled with transportation and time management. Practices and games were no longer on the school’s campus and required traveling by public transportation and being able to balance school work, jobs and other personal commitments to show up and be a part of this community. Not only did Andres make every practice and game, but he took it upon himself to call and assist his teammates in any way he could to be sure they showed up for one another as well. Andres holds his team to a high standard and lives out the Street Soccer USA skills of “Showing Up” and “Playing With Heart”. These skills emphasize the importance of being a reliable and supportive teammate while always giving it your all on and off the field. His leadership demonstrated on the team lead Andres a paid coaching role for the youth programs at Street Soccer USA. He is a positive role model in these youth lives and an example of what can come of hard work and utilizing your support network.
Andres continues to share his story with his community and in doing so hopes to inspire change in others. He realizes the youth participants he engages on a weekly basis through SSUSA may have a similar story to him. They may be an immigrant here in the United States and had to adjust to a new culture and lifestyle, or maybe they are living in a broken home where they do not have someone they can depend on and look up to. He wants to be sure these youth realize that they have control over their lives, and with hard work and effort can achieve the goals they set out to accomplish.
