I don’t feel that I have a disability.  Obviously, I do, but I don’t let it affect me to a point that I am not able to do things that I want to do. I just feel like I’m another normal soccer player. That’s how I view it personally. I am always able to do stuff that I want to do, and I have never let that bother me or stop me.

I don’t have to prove anything to anyone. I don’t think teams necessarily go after me because you don’t have to use your arms too much in soccer. It’s not something like in tennis where they could always hit to my left side. No matter what, I just try and compete at the highest level just like anyone else does on my team.

I’ve never had two arms, so I’ve never had to change anything. I’ve just grown up doing the only thing I know how to do which is running the way I do. I have kind of had to learn on my own because no one in my family or my coaches have one arm.

If someone is showing me something, they can’t show me with one arm. It’s not possible, so that’s probably the biggest difference.

I knew I was going to play soccer no matter what.

I did a bunch of sports when I was younger. I did tennis, swimming, soccer and basketball. My dad played soccer in college and my mum basketball. But I just loved soccer so much and loved that I was able to meet new friends and be on a team.

Obviously, you don’t use your hands so much in soccer and that was definitely a benefit. But growing up I chose it more for the love of the game rather than any imperfections or disabilities.

 Because I knew that whatever I did, I could get through it and I was able to compete. I just don’t make excuses. I don’t want anyone to make excuses for me and that has been my motto -“treat me like a normal person and don’t feel sorry for me” because I don’t like pity.