Cleats are a very important part of my life. I’ve used them almost my whole life, since I was able to walk I’ve played soccer with them. They’ve helped me create connections and bonds through sharing the field with my family, friends, or random people for fun. Soccer is especially important in my family because it’s a part of our culture. It’s like a tradition being passed down from generation to generation because my dad taught me how to play, and his dad taught him, and so on. Going to tournaments to watch my uncle’s was something I looked forward to. I looked forward to watching them play and learning how to be better, but also the energy around, all the kids playing, vendors selling chips and drinks, and the crowd getting mad because of the ref.Just recently I played my last competitive game for high school. It made me realize that I sometimes took for granted the experience of playing in a club and being able to play on varsity soccer. It was fun and I will still play here and there after graduation but it won’t be the same. 

– Austin Rabadan

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