Waukegan girl finds her path thanks to Heart of the City soccer program

Here is just one of many Heart of the City success stories:

As a high school student, Desareih felt unmotivated and struggled with depression.

She desperately wanted to play soccer, but her family had just moved to Waukegan and they couldn't afford extracurricular activities. Her parents worked hard but neither had graduated from high school and they didn't have the knowledge or resources to guide her toward her future goals.

She dreamed of being the first in her family to attend college but knew the costs would make it impossible.

At 16 years old, Desareih signed up to play soccer with Heart of the City. As she began to move through the program, she developed the skills and knowledge that slowly helped her envision an attainable future for herself.

With the guidance and training of our coaches, she excelled on the field and finished as a team captain and leader on her team and a mentor to younger players. She took the referee and coach certification courses, gaining leadership skills, work experience, and earning income.

Academically, her mentors helped her participate in SAT prep courses and FAFSA application workshops. She joined Heart of the City essay writing workshops and went on college tours with her team.

With her new Heart of the City support system of friends and coaches, she graduated from high school, decided to major in kinesiology, and received a full-ride scholarship to play soccer for the College of Lake County.

And this year, after playing two years at CLC, Desareih transferred to Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee after having been scouted by their coach at a Heart of the City College ID event.

"I don't know if I would be here if it wasn't for Heart of the City," Desareih said. "It gave me the confidence I needed to grow. Playing sports made me a better person and helped me figure out what I wanted to do in life. I want to be an athletic trainer, and I want to help other people get back to their sports, and maybe help others go to college through sports."