#uswds

[usdeafsoccermates]

ANOTHER WIN!

USA women's soccer team wins again! Beat Japan, 4-1! Two beautiful shots by Julie Nelson, one shot by Felicia Schroeder with the help of Kate Romano, and one goal by Heather Kennedy! Next game is Sunday against Germany! Lets go get them! 

[usdeafsoccermates]

Maddie's Deaf Story

Hey guys it's Maddie I wanted to share you my deaf story! I hope you find it interesting!

 My mom started to notice that something wasn't right when I was about two and half years old. She noticed that I would sit really close to the T.V or have it turned up really loud. I wouldn't respond to her right away, when she called my name three to four times to get my attention. I would talk on the phone only on my right ear instead of my left because I couldn't hear at all out of my left ear. One time, my mom asked me to hold the phone to my left ear and I said "No, I cant, my ear is broken." Thats when she knew something was really wrong. I went to the doctors and got tested. The results came back, not very good. They found out that I was profoundly deaf in my left ear, but partially deaf in my right ear. Ever since then (I was three) I’ve worn a hearing aid.

               When I first had my hearing aid, I hated the feel of it, but I could hear so well I started to leave it in. As I got older I just got used to it. When my family and I moved to Florida, my mom wanted me to attend to a private school. Ever since Pre-K, I have been in private schools and have made great friends. I do want people to know that, I don’t want to be treated differently because of my hearing. I learn like everybody else, even though I have to sit in the front of the class rooms or my teachers sometimes have to repeat what they were saying, but other than that I am treated like every other student.

               Soccer really helped me grow and to be confident. Ever since I was little, all I wanted to do it to play soccer. My dream was to play in college and go pro one day. I didn’t want my hearing impairment to stop me from achieving my dream. I knew if it did, if I gave up, I wouldn’t be the person I knew I could and was suppose to be. Without soccer, I wouldn’t have been confident enough to pull my hair back in a pony tail because then people would stare at my hearing aid. I have to admit, there was a point in my life where I wore my hair down every day to school because I was scared of what people who say or think. But soccer helped me to be strong and confident.

    People always ask me, “Do you wish that you didn’t have a hearing lost.” My answer is no. I have a purpose on this earth, and I believe that everything happens for a reason. Having a hearing lost, is challenging and sometime frustrating but its also life. I am blessed to have hearing lost because it has taught me to work hard, no matter how hard the challenge. I am always up for the challenge! I know that I will have hearing loss for the rest of my life and I accept it. I feel like no matter what, you can do anything if you put your heart in it, regardless. I want people to know that anything is possible, you have just got to believe in yourself. 

[usdeafsoccermates]

Deaf Soccer Style

 Hey guys sorry for the delay! We are trying to get used to the time change! Thank you for being patient!

  How do we communicate on the field? Well, when we play every player who wears a hearing aid must take it out so nobody has a special advantage. It is really important that we keep our heads up, just like regular soccer players and look for our team mates. This is my first time ever being on the team(Maddie) & I have never played with deaf girls. It really boosts my confidence being exposed to a community like this because I know that there are deaf girls just like me. A lot of people ask, well how do deaf girls play soccer? We can all move, we all have eyes, and we have amazing soccer talent. We play soccer, just like any other soccer player, we just can't hear. The challenges we face on the field help us become better players. Not only that, it helps us become better people as well. I'm excited about these next two weeks in Turkey & bringing home the gold! GO USA!