So I recently became friends with a really awesome dude named Dan Rollman who started the coolest company ever: www.recordsetter.com. It’s basically The Guiness Book of World Records for the most random and amazing records (ie the most number of Oreo cookies held between two people’s foreheads or the longest office chair train…). So, as a good new friend should do, I decided to set a new World Record of my own: the most number of butt traps made with a soccer ball in one minute.

See record here:

http://recordsetter.com/world-record/butt-traps-soccer-ball-minute/13862

Because of this, my friend Natalie randomly forwarded me an email asking me if I was interested in being in a national commercial for Sony with five European male soccer players and I of course said: um yes please. 

So I sent the casting people an email (unsolicited) to share my passion for this beloved sport. I wrote this following email in literally five minutes on the subway on my way to yes, my new bestie, Dan Rollman’s house. The words flowed out of me without any real thought and quite obviously came from a much deeper place inside of me. I paused before I pressed “send”.  It truly reminded me of why this sport, soccer, made me who I am today.

This is the email I sent them:  

Why soccer made me:

Fell in love with soccer when I was 4 years old, tripping over my dress kicking a ball. My father gave me a choice btwn doing traditional Indian dance or soccer and of course I picked soccer. Taught me the value of making good choices. :-) 

I scored 11 goals when I was 11 years old. Taught me true confidence. 

First time I cried for joy was when I was 14 and our team fought till the end to win and make it to the National Championship. Taught me the deepest meaning of teamwork.

First time I was ever told a boy liked me was when I was at the National Championship. He asked me to slow dance and I told him I’d dance three fast songs with him. He also pulled the seat out for me at the National dinner. Made me feel “girly” for the first time.

Made the boys team in prep school before going to Cornell even if there was a girls team. We changed in the same locker room as them. I scored the best goal of my life on this team which I will never forget.  Taught me to surpass the expected. 

Scored the first goal ever on Burman field at Cornell, a brand new field in my first game freshman year off a corner kick. Diving header. Scored a second goal in that game, assisted by identical twin sister who also played soccer at Cornell. Made me take a lot of pride in my university.

Made the starting line up for the New York Magic after college while sneaking away from my investment banking job on Wall Street. Taught me to chase my dream.

Had three reconstructive knee surgeries because of soccer and it taught me resilience and survival through the most painful of conditions. 

Went to the World Cup in South Africa (first World Cup experience ever) and watched the world unify under the magic of this sport.

Soccer has defined me and has given me the strength to become an entrepreneur and approach business in the same way as I did with soccer. 

I will forever be grateful to this sport.

Thank you for this opportunity, 

xo

Miki