Liam

What do they love most about playing their sport(s)?

As someone who has felt out of place for the majority of my life, I like playing sports because they make me feel like I am part of a team. Sports have helped me build confidence, make friends, push myself to reach goals, and learn teamwork. By putting in effort, my coaches have believed in me and given me opportunities to do more, which has helped me believe in myself. Sports keep me active and give me something to be proud of.

Who inspires them—on or off the field—and why?

My high school junior football coach inspires me because he believed in me when I didn’t always believe in myself. He gave me opportunities to prove what I could do and encouraged me to keep working hard. Because of him, I became more confident and learned that I can accomplish more than I thought I could. He gave me the confidence to join my city’s team in the provincial league, where I was able to thrive this summer.

What’s one moment in their athletic journey that makes you proudest?

I started playing football three years ago in Grade 9, and my first year I had very little playing time. This year, I played both high school football and AA in the provincial league. At first, I still had minimal playing time, but halfway through the season I started getting more opportunities. By the playoffs, I was on the kicking team and a starting DB. I was proud of how far I had come and that my hard work paid off.