Mia Perales-Miranda '22 Recruiting Profile

Soccer has been my outlet, allowed me to overcome some speech obstacles, and gain closeness with my father through our love of the game. As a young child, I believed that I was different, not because I looked different, but because I spoke fast. It was often said that I spoke, “Mianease or Mia’s language.” Luckily for me, I had an outlet, soccer. As long as I can remember, I have been playing soccer, first in a recreational league, then transitioning to indoor soccer, and lastly, having the opportunity to play competitively at the age of 9 years old.

My love for the game grew, along with my ability to speak slowly and clearly, and before I knew it, school was becoming easier, and so was soccer. Although I moved around a lot, which led me to change teams more often than most, or that I would want to, my abilities on the field, quiet demeanor, and work ethic helped me progress my skills and build lasting friendships. Through my individual growth both on and off the field, I developed a determination to succeed and dedication to improving myself, which is hard with the pressures of coaches and parents’ expectations. Nevertheless, I realized that through soccer, I could push myself to exceed, tackle the barriers that have restrained my game, whether I am playing too high as a defensive midfielder or not going wide enough as a winger, these barriers are not mine alone, but mine to tackle.

In my next chapter, I am looking forward to attending college where I can explore the beauty of learning, have the opportunity to play the game I love, and in doing so, make memories that I can take with me in my future endeavors.