Community Stories: Hassan Saleh

“Soccer has always been more than a game for me. It’s both an anchor and a roadmap – keeping me grounded and showing me what’s important in sports and in life. My mentor, who was also my soccer coach, has played a similar role, which inspires me to strive to make an equal impact.

Currently, I volunteer as a soccer coach to around 100 kids two to three hours per day, six days a week. It may seem like a lot considering I’m a full-time student at Wayne State University and a soccer player myself, but the impact makes it worth it. The kids I coach range in age from 6 to 14. They don’t always have many other opportunities for physical activity and a lot of parents can’t really afford to pay extra money for sports. It’s free for kids to play on our team and yet, the kids are some of the best players I’ve seen. We won first place in both the Summer 2021 League and the Fall 2021 Traveling State League.

Learning the sport and developing their skills has significantly increased the kids’ self-confidence and improved their emotional well-being. I know because it did the same thing for me. I’m not sure where I’d be without soccer and my mentor, but I know I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I will be so proud if one day the kids I coach would be able to look at me the same way that I look up to my mentor.

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