Jason Liang, a teenager from NYC iSchool, was content enjoying sports but had never given soccer a second thought.

“I wasn’t really into a sport at the time,” he says, “but I enjoyed sports in general.” It’s not every day you meet someone who suddenly falls in love with a sport.

It’s a hot summer day in New York for Jason Liang, a 15 year old student from our very own Nyc iSchool. Staying at his grandparent’s house relaxing. At this point, he doesn’t have a deep connection to any particular sport, however, he’s always been a big fan of physical activity. But this all changes as he scrolls through YouTube, something catches his eye. It’s a highlight reel of a soccer game.  The UEFA Nations League match between Portugal and Croatia.

“I decided to watch the game and, I don’t know, I just really liked it. You can’t really compare it [soccer] to any other sport.”

“Just keep searching and you will eventually fall in love with any sport. If you’re really into soccer, watch a couple of games, go to a field whenever you’re free, and just play.” – Jason

Whether you call it Futbol or Soccer, the sport is more than just a game for many. It’s a passion that inspires challenges and unites people across the globe. Jason’s story into exploring the world of soccer proves how a single moment, a spark of curiosity, can begin a lifelong love with a sport. Jason’s story for instance is one of passion ignited by something as simple as a youtube video of a highlight reel.

His growing connection with soccer is not just about watching games but a more broader appreciation for how sports can build focus, relieve stress, and create lifelong memories.

Jason was not always fond of soccer. In fact he wasn’t even on the lookout for a sport. He was partaking in several activities, but none of them focused him enough. That changed when he saw a clip of the Portugal vs Croatia UEFA Europa League match. The level of excitement in the game, the exceptional skill on display by the players and the raw passion for competition pulled his attention right away.

“I kind of fell in love with it,” Jason remembers with a smile. “I just really liked the sport in general, and it is one of those few things where you cannot compare it to anything else.” This discovery is what led Jason to the passionate world of soccer.

At first, it didn’t take him much time to start following the games, and researching the teams and players who caught his attention. Jason’s admiration for one of soccer’s greatest legends, Cristiano Ronaldo, which lead to him support clubs like Real Madrid and Manchester United, Juventus, and Sporting CP, all of which have had Ronaldo at his prime.

Jason’s experience with soccer also highlights its ability to relieve stress. He believes that with just a little exercise, a person is able to concentrate better and release whatever pressure may have been built up due to the challenges of school and even life in general. Researchers within the field of physical activity have no trouble believing that exercise, and particularly team sports like soccer, has a very positive impact on stress reduction. In fact According to The Mayo Clinic, “exercise has some direct stress-busting benefits.”

Aerobic exercises boost the amount of endorphins produced which is a hormone known to elevate mood and lower the levels of anxiety.

Jason also states that unlike American Football, which is much more stop-start, soccer is continuous and thus does not need as much stoppage time or periods of breaks. This can again be supported by factual evidence.

Question: What distinct soccer from the rest of sports? 

Answer:  “because soccer, you run in a big ass field for 90 minutes straight… you don’t really have any breaks.”

– Jason

Actually, it could be even more than “90 minutes.”

In soccer, the clock runs continuously throughout the 90 minutes, only pausing for events like injuries or substitutions. However this then leads to.  stoppage time (or injury time) which is used to compensate for any time lost during these interruptions.

An article published in the UK article ‘The times’  states that the premier league stoppage time in the 2023/24 season was around “11 minutes 35 seconds.”

Eleven and a half extra minutes added on to the standard ninety.

Eleven and a half minutes of added time is catastrophic in the sports world. So much can happen in this amount of time, therefore it becomes even more physically demanding on players to spend those minutes changing the writing of the game.

Furthermore, soccer is different to many sports because it combines cardiovascular exercise with collaboration and concentration. The need to run up and down the pitch for 90 consecutive minutes sets soccer apart from other sports because virtually no other activity requires as much stamina.

All and all this proves just how much knowledge you can distinctively pick up simply by exploring something you’re interested in, which in Jason’s case is the world of Soccer.

Maybe there’s a spot out there for you, just search for it. Don’t be afraid to explore and potentially come across the same love Jason found for your own.

Lastly, Jason was asked to come up with final words to leave the iSchool network readers with which he decided to state his truth.

“Ronaldo’s better than Messi,” Jason declares confidently, a statement that is sure to spark debates among soccer fans since forever.

But for Jason, it’s more than just rivalry. To him it’s about the player who inspires him to chase his dreams. To keep getting better, improving day by day. And most importantly, never lose the thrill he feels when involved with the sport he fell in love with in the first place.

With soccer already deeply embedded in his life, one thing is clear: Jason’s love for the sport will only continue to grow.