Like Father, Like Daughter
May 19, 2020 | Soccer, HailStateBEAT
by Emma Warren, Student Assistant/Communications
STARKVILLE – Most people have someone that they look up to. For Esmeralda Figueroa, her father was – and still is – her hero.
"Ever since I've been younger and still today, I've admired my dad the most," she said. "I used to tell myself that one day I was going to be just like him. I wanted to do everything that he did."
Whether it was soccer, school, work or just in life, she wanted to shine with positivity just like he does.
"One of the best lessons that I have ever learned from my dad, that I still love today, is to never say that I am bad at anything," Figueroa said. "He told me to tell myself that no matter what happens that day, you survived it and can only become better than yesterday."
She grew up watching her father play soccer, and that drew her to the sport she would fall in love with. She watched him train every day and wanted to do the same things to become bigger and better like he did.
One morning Figueroa heard him working out at 5:30 a.m. and jumped out of bed to go see what he was doing. She was angry that he didn't wake her up to work out too, but from that day on he knew she was serious about wanting to train with him.
"I wanted to do anything that he did to become better and faster at anything," she said. "I wanted to look like him. I wanted to be him."
Her dad has always been her number one fan. He always stood alone by one of the big light poles and watched her practices. She would glance up to him between drills to know how she was doing. If he gave her a thumb up, then she knew she was doing a good job. That's all that mattered to her. She knew if he thought she was doing well, then everyone around her would too.
"I've always loved soccer because of him," Figueroa said. "He always believed in me more than I believed in myself. I never wanted to make anyone happier than him."
Her relationship with her dad is strong, and she credits him for her strong faith.
"My dad always gave all his glory to God," she said. "When I watched him play soccer, I watched him save goals left and right. He even won the game for his team saving the last goal in a PK shoot out. I remember telling myself how in the world can a human do that."
One of her favorite verses is Philippians 4:12. Her takeaway from this verse is that you have to enjoy all aspects of the game of soccer, not just the positives. Her father has instilled this in her: It's not just about winning the games.
"In order to be a champion like my dad is in my eyes, I have to learn to enjoy every practice, every training, every game, and every season," she said. "This includes losing and winning, bad practices and good practices, and sitting the bench versus being on the field."
STARKVILLE – Most people have someone that they look up to. For Esmeralda Figueroa, her father was – and still is – her hero.
"Ever since I've been younger and still today, I've admired my dad the most," she said. "I used to tell myself that one day I was going to be just like him. I wanted to do everything that he did."
Whether it was soccer, school, work or just in life, she wanted to shine with positivity just like he does.
"One of the best lessons that I have ever learned from my dad, that I still love today, is to never say that I am bad at anything," Figueroa said. "He told me to tell myself that no matter what happens that day, you survived it and can only become better than yesterday."
She grew up watching her father play soccer, and that drew her to the sport she would fall in love with. She watched him train every day and wanted to do the same things to become bigger and better like he did.
One morning Figueroa heard him working out at 5:30 a.m. and jumped out of bed to go see what he was doing. She was angry that he didn't wake her up to work out too, but from that day on he knew she was serious about wanting to train with him.
"I wanted to do anything that he did to become better and faster at anything," she said. "I wanted to look like him. I wanted to be him."
Her dad has always been her number one fan. He always stood alone by one of the big light poles and watched her practices. She would glance up to him between drills to know how she was doing. If he gave her a thumb up, then she knew she was doing a good job. That's all that mattered to her. She knew if he thought she was doing well, then everyone around her would too.
"I've always loved soccer because of him," Figueroa said. "He always believed in me more than I believed in myself. I never wanted to make anyone happier than him."
Her relationship with her dad is strong, and she credits him for her strong faith.
"My dad always gave all his glory to God," she said. "When I watched him play soccer, I watched him save goals left and right. He even won the game for his team saving the last goal in a PK shoot out. I remember telling myself how in the world can a human do that."
One of her favorite verses is Philippians 4:12. Her takeaway from this verse is that you have to enjoy all aspects of the game of soccer, not just the positives. Her father has instilled this in her: It's not just about winning the games.
"In order to be a champion like my dad is in my eyes, I have to learn to enjoy every practice, every training, every game, and every season," she said. "This includes losing and winning, bad practices and good practices, and sitting the bench versus being on the field."
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