Women's Soccer Spreads Holiday Cheer
12/19/2007 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Dec. 19, 2007
HOUSTON - The University of Houston soccer team recently participated in the sponsoring of a family for the holidays for the second-straight year.
Thank you to all the players, families and friends that supported the team's efforts and helped make one family's holiday dream come true this year.
Three players recap their thoughts about the soccer squad's holiday tradition:
#13 Islara Rodriguez
Christmas is the most joyous time of the year...for some. Before we sponsored the family, Señora Blanca felt that celebrating Christmas was a burden because she could not buy gifts for her four children. When Señora Blanca started to cry "because now my children have gifts to open on Christmas" showed me why it is so important to give back to the community. The biggest and most genuine smile I have seen is when Saida opened the door and saw us. Her smile made me realize that our team effort made a big difference in her life by giving her family hope, especially during the holiday season. The most rewarding part of our team effort was that it brought joy to a home that thought Christmas was going to be a burden. Saida's smile and Blanca's tears showed me that giving back to the community is the most rewarding gift.
#19 Nikki Echeverria
The team and I hosted a family last Christmas and this year we chose to do the same again. Both times were overwhelmingly emotional and special for me. I enjoy the process of going out and getting things for the family more so than anything else. They are always so grateful, that even the gesture is more than enough. I sympathize with these families and kids, and I know how much the little things in life are important to everyone. It always feels good to give, of both time and effort; and it makes it better to know that you can make someone else's life just that much easier without any real effort at all. I also think it is important for our team to give back to families in our community because we, ourselves, are blessed in so many ways. Helping out and lending a hand keeps us grounded and makes us appreciative of what our school has given us. At the end of the day, everyone deserves the same kindness. I hope that this becomes a regular tradition that continues for as long as our program is around.
#12 Jessica Rathweg
The Christmas Family that we supported was extremely appreciative for the gifts that we gave them. It really moved me when the mother and daughter were so overjoyed that they began to cry. It was great to be able to give them a Christmas that they will never forget and give them gifts that they would not have imagined getting otherwise. As a team I think it was good to help the family out through a tough time. I believe it brings us together and we share a closer bond now for doing so. If more people in the community were to do little acts like helping out another family, then Christmas would be an amazing time for all families to share together. Overall it was a rewarding experience for everyone involved.
Happy Holidays to our Cougar Family!
