Yahaira Garcia Santacruz just completed her junior year at Daniel Webster High School in Tulsa. She answered a few questions about herself and how soccer impacts her life.
Q: What has your sport taught you that you use in your daily life?
A: It’s taught me to push myself to do better in almost everything I do.
Q: Why are you passionate about your sport?
A: I like the challenge it brings. It brings me joy and helps me to realize how much I’m capable of.
Q: Who is your favorite teacher from any grade and why?
A: Mrs. Mikus. I was in pre-k, and she was someone outside of my family who also cared about me as if I was her child. She was the only teacher who really cared about me and cared about how I did in school.
Q: Who inspires you and why?
A: My dad inspires me because he would always tell me how great he was in high school and all throughout his career in soccer. He also told me how he couldn’t continue his career due to an injury. I want to finish what he started and make him proud. He has always encouraged me and believes I can do better.
Q: Where would you go for summer vacation and who do you take with you?
A: It would be with my parents and siblings. I would want to take them to Mexico because my parents are not able to travel out of the country and I know it would be amazing for them to travel with me and my siblings to visit where they grew up.
Q: When and how did you first get into playing your sport?
A: My dad put me on a soccer team with both my cousins when I was four years old.
Q: Here is your chance to say thank you to anyone you wish.
A: I want to give thanks to my parents, especially my dad for taking me to all my games and practices even when there were times when I really didn’t want to. He pushed me and trained me when I was younger so I can get to where I am now.
Q: What is your favorite part about representing your high school as an athlete?
A: I can encourage other girls to push themselves to do more.
Q: What is the best advice that anyone has given you?
A: My dad always told me to show them that you want it more. That always stuck with me and encouraged me to do better.
