I was very fortunate to grow up in a region that was passionate about sports, which made it no surprise that I fell in love with them at a young age. Growing up, there always was a game on the living room television. It didn’t matter what sport it was, my dad was always watching it. Some of the best memories that I cherish are the ones watching Patriots games with him. Almost everything we did together had something to do with sports. They have always made it easier for me to spark conversations, pass the time, and express who I am. My dad always pushed me to be my best and that’s why no matter what, I try to do it in life. Everyday after school I would ask my dad if we could go throw the football around or shoot some hoops. Sports have always been a big part of my life and my dad’s as well, but when he passed away in 2021 it was almost as if a piece of me had died as well. Entering high school I decided to play football as a way to honor him and fulfill my promise to him that I would play football in high school. He suggested that I should stick with it because I played it for my whole life. But I promised him that I would give it a try, and if I didn’t enjoy it I would return to soccer. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I didn’t belong in pads and a helmet. As badly as I wanted to quit football midseason, I made a promise to my dad that I planned on keeping. I toughed it out the rest of the season and returned to soccer the following year. Even though it felt good to be back on the soccer field, it still didn’t feel the same without hearing my dad’s voice from the sideline. No matter how many times I thought I heard his voice during a game, I kept reminding myself that he wasn’t there. Even though my dad was a big reason for my success on the field, I knew the only way to continue to make him proud was to continue to work hard. The influence from my dad’s teaching instilled in me that I was able to achieve and pursue a career that I am passionate about. My dad always believed in me and encouraged me to believe in myself. He was never a fan of watching cartoons after school, he always thought I should be doing something that could benefit me. Knowing how much I loved sports, he suggested that I watch ESPN. This became something I still do to this day and has led me to explore all other types of sports media like sports radio. This encouragement inspired my pursuit of a career in the sports industry. As I got older, I began to do more than just watch the players on the field, I started to listen to the voices broadcasting the game. I realized that being involved in sports was more than just playing or coaching, everyone has their own role. I’ve found my role, whether that’s discussing the Celtics’ performance from last night’s game or doing play-by-play for the Patriots. I want to share my passion for sports with viewers and ensure that my voice is heard.