Personal Narrative: A Career In Nicaragua
It started just as any normal Saturday would; December 8, 2012, I woke up, went through my morning routine and went to soccer practice. I was competing for a spot on the North Carolina ODP (Olympic Development Program) soccer team. Training was being held at fields about two hours from my house. I sat in the backseat of my dad’s car with my two sisters and as we rode to the fields I began to mentally prepare myself for how I would play my best and make the team.
Once I got to the facility I was happy to see that some of my teammates from my club soccer team were training in the younger age group. As their training drew to a close I noticed they were crying. I was concerned and wanted to help comfort them and find the reason for why they were crying one of them told me “Larissa was in an accident, and she may not survive”. At that moment I had never felt so hopeless, not being able to help …show more content…
the person I called my best friend, my teammate, and my sister gets through her suffering.
After receiving the terrible news, I forced myself to go out on the field and try out for the state team. I knew that there was nothing that I could possibly do for Larissa besides playing the game we shared and loved. After the session was over, I walked to my parent’s car and just looking at their faces I knew. My mom looked at me and I could see it in her eyes, I said “Larissa Died”.
Before I went to bed that I night, I thought about the last time we spoke. It was the Thursday before that dreadful Saturday. My club team had soccer practice and it was unlike any normal practice where we start with a technical drill, then move into a possession drill, and lastly into a game or shooting. This training was different because all we did was play seven versus seven to goal and it was the most fun we had in a long time. Larissa and I were both captains for our team so we got the opportunity to choose teams. It was a hard fought game with equally matched teams, Larissa versus me but somehow, someway I came out on top and my team won. After training, we walked to our parent's cars laughing and joking around and I spoke the last words I would ever say to her. I said, “bye, I love you”.
The funeral was held in a two-story church a few days later.
There was a mix of people from every aspect of her life, school, soccer, relatives (from Nicaragua) all there to say their final goodbye.
Following the funeral, everyone from Larissa’s life set about making a foundation in her name. We came up with Dale Lari whose main goal is to provide soccer equipment, meals, and transportation to less fortunate kids in Nicaragua. A year later we had the funds to buy a bus and filled the bus with used equipment. A volunteer drove it to Miami and from there it was shipped to Nicaragua for a local team known as the Cachorros Football Club.
Every time I step on a field, I tape my wrist and write L.E.E. in honor of Larissa. She has taught me many lessons in life and made me a better teammate, friend, daughter, as well as a student. She has taught me how to be resilient and persevere through adversity, to respect life, and live every moment to its fullest. Larissa Estrada was the most influential person in the development of my character and I will always remember
her.
Once I got to the facility I was happy to see that some of my teammates from my club soccer team were training in the younger age group. As their training drew to a close I noticed they were crying. I was concerned and wanted to help comfort them and find the reason for why they were crying one of them told me “Larissa was in an accident, and she may not survive”. At that moment I had never felt so hopeless, not being able to help …show more content…
the person I called my best friend, my teammate, and my sister gets through her suffering.
After receiving the terrible news, I forced myself to go out on the field and try out for the state team. I knew that there was nothing that I could possibly do for Larissa besides playing the game we shared and loved. After the session was over, I walked to my parent’s car and just looking at their faces I knew. My mom looked at me and I could see it in her eyes, I said “Larissa Died”.
Before I went to bed that I night, I thought about the last time we spoke. It was the Thursday before that dreadful Saturday. My club team had soccer practice and it was unlike any normal practice where we start with a technical drill, then move into a possession drill, and lastly into a game or shooting. This training was different because all we did was play seven versus seven to goal and it was the most fun we had in a long time. Larissa and I were both captains for our team so we got the opportunity to choose teams. It was a hard fought game with equally matched teams, Larissa versus me but somehow, someway I came out on top and my team won. After training, we walked to our parent's cars laughing and joking around and I spoke the last words I would ever say to her. I said, “bye, I love you”.
The funeral was held in a two-story church a few days later.
There was a mix of people from every aspect of her life, school, soccer, relatives (from Nicaragua) all there to say their final goodbye.
Following the funeral, everyone from Larissa’s life set about making a foundation in her name. We came up with Dale Lari whose main goal is to provide soccer equipment, meals, and transportation to less fortunate kids in Nicaragua. A year later we had the funds to buy a bus and filled the bus with used equipment. A volunteer drove it to Miami and from there it was shipped to Nicaragua for a local team known as the Cachorros Football Club.
Every time I step on a field, I tape my wrist and write L.E.E. in honor of Larissa. She has taught me many lessons in life and made me a better teammate, friend, daughter, as well as a student. She has taught me how to be resilient and persevere through adversity, to respect life, and live every moment to its fullest. Larissa Estrada was the most influential person in the development of my character and I will always remember
her.