How a tight-knit Ethiopian community helped shape Naomi Girma’s record-breaking soccer career

Naomi Girma needs no introduction. The 24-year-old award-winning soccer player has shattered records and defied all expectations, proving that success is built on perseverance, passion, and of course hard work. Having said that, Girma never had an easy way to success. She almost had to quit soccer as a young child, but it was her Ethiopian heritage that contributed largely to her sports career. Since her parents were busy, Girma revealed on an episode of NBC and Telemundo's "My New Favorite Futbolista" podcast, the Ethiopian community in San Jose took her to soccer practices.

The NWSL Rookie of the Year winner shared that her parents, originally from Ethiopia, met in the United States. Girma revealed that her parents had different reasons for leaving their country—her mother left for education while her father fled during a civil war. Girma's love for soccer began when her dad started a soccer club for Ethiopian kids in San Jose. "It was just like the Ethiopians in the Bay. We would get together and we'd play soccer and I think just them creating that environment for me and making it such a fun and safe space for me to just like, fall in love with soccer. I always say it was like the most low-pressure environment you could imagine," she said. But then, where was the problem?

Well, being born to immigrant parents, Girma was a first-generation American, which was actually her main struggle. Her parents had a tough time figuring out things for her in America. Girma's mother, Seble Demissie, shared that she would often exchange information about school and extracurricular activities with other parents during the children's playdates. "One of the biggest challenges, I would say, was (getting) rides to training, especially as it went from like two days a week to three days a week. I was getting rides from anyone who could take me. I had like one of my really close friends, her mom would come get me from my school and then go get her daughter and then get someone else and then we would go,” Girma shared. 

Although she often had different families helping, Girma's soccer career almost ended because of her amazing skills. Impressed by her performance, the club wanted Girma to move to the top team. “We didn't know the families on the top team yet because I had been playing on whatever team I joined with my friend. My mother was like, 'I don't think Naomi can join. I just can't get her to practice,'" she said. However, the club responded, "No, that's not a reason for her to not keep playing or not to be on the team." Fortunately, this eventually turned out in Girma's favor as she explained, "Multiple families who just, out of the kindness of their heart, would swing by my house or swing by my school and get me. And I'm so thankful because I would have maybe had to stop playing because I couldn't drive myself.”

With her not-so-easy experience being a first-generation American, Girma concluded on an inspiring note. She urged kids to not be afraid to ask for help. "I learned that from my mom. She's always like, 'I would just ask, it's fine.' And I was like, 'Oh, no it's embarrassing.' And she (says), 'No, just ask. People are more likely to help than turn you down or make you feel bad about it," Girma added.