I come from a small town in Galway, Ireland, from a family that never aspired to go to college. Now I am defying all the odds because of these football boots. To me, these old football boots are my whole story – they are the reason I wake up in the morning , they have me great mental structure while my brother was sick with Leukaemia, and they are the reason that I am in America today. 

Last year I received a scholarship to Boston College as a punter for their football team, having never played American football in Ireland. I put videos of me on twitter, wearing these football boots. Very quickly I got the attention of many college coaches. 

These boots not only changed the life I will live but also the lives of my family members to come. Being the first in my family to go to college, I hope this opportunity will help navigate the challenges of sending children to college, allowing my children to dream of furthering their own education. 

Moving away from home to a brand-new country and culture at 19 is not easy for anyone. This pair of boots gives me time for mental headspace while I play sports and allow me to forget how far away from home I really am. 

I hope that these boots have not finished their story. I believe that the scholarship that I from these boots will not be the final opportunity they will give me in the USA.

– Andy Quinn

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant