Lessons from the soccer field: Cisco Estrada’s story

Soccer, for Cisco Estrada, isn’t just a game; it’s a vehicle for wisdom and resilience. From his earliest years, Cisco’s passion for soccer has been intertwined with his pursuit of knowledge, shaping him into the driven individual he is today at the University of Washington-Tacoma.

“Soccer is so accessible. You just need a ball and something that you call a goal,” Cisco says, reflecting on the simplicity of the sport. This accessibility, he believes, transcends borders, instilling valuable life lessons in young players whether they’re in Tacoma or Mexico. For Cisco, soccer serves as a constant reminder that success requires dedication and hard work—a motivator that propels him both on and off the field.

But soccer isn’t the only thing that keeps Cisco motivated. Ever since his childhood, Cisco was taught the importance of education. Born near Tacoma, Cisco is a first-generation Mexican American. “I think my parents did their best to instill things that had some sort of discipline,” he reflects. “To be a good student, you have to read and study a lot and be active in the classroom. To be a good soccer player, you have to be a good listener and work well with your teammates. To be a good Catholic, you not only have to go to church, you have to exercise your faith and read the bible outside of Saturday school as well. I credit a lot of who I am to them.”

This innate sense of discipline proved invaluable as Cisco navigated the challenges of his environment, witnessing the struggles of family members with addiction and incarceration. Determined to forge a different path, Cisco embraced positive opportunities, excelling in school and participating in extracurricular activities that fostered his growth.

Cisco quickly learned the value of a consistent routine and hard work. Once he started high school, his parents continued to steer him in the right direction. “My dad in particular would always sign me up for [academic programs],” Cisco recalls. “I got signed up for College Success Foundation in high school, but it wasn’t until college that I connected more deeply with the program.”

In his late high school years, Cisco participated in Upward Bound, a federally funded program providing fundamental support to students in preparation for college, and it was through this program that he toured several universities over the summer months which helped him visualize what the future could look like. “I applied to Gonzaga, University of Washington-Seattle, and Seattle University. In my head, these were my best options in Washington. I had spent most of my life in Tacoma so I was excited at the thought of living somewhere new.” When he got accepted into the University of Washington-Seattle, Cisco was ecstatic to enroll.

But like many of the CSF Scholars we serve, Cisco faced unforeseen challenges during the pandemic. In addition to commuting a total of four hours a day from Tacoma to UW’s Seattle campus, Cisco felt discouraged by remote learning. “There was a lot of value in being in Seattle and around a lot of other people my age,” he says. “But when the pandemic hit, I didn’t have that opportunity. I was burnt out from commuting as well, so I decided to take a break.”

Everyone needs a reset. And for Cisco, taking a break for two years helped him clarify his life’s purpose. “I worked as a soccer coach with younger kids,” he remembers. “It turned out I was in high demand for private lessons. It’s really important––the type of people you have around your kids at a young age. The fact that these parents entrusted me so much taught me I had a lot of potential. And instead of getting pigeonholed into soccer coaching for the rest of my life, I felt the urgency to go back to school.”

Fast forward to January 2023: getting back to UW-Seattle wasn’t as easy as he’d hoped. “It was hard to verify my financial aid and housing situation,” he shares. “When I reached out to University of Washington-Tacoma instead, I had my financial aid verified quickly, all my classes were available, and I was housed. The Office for Student Advocacy and Success helped me transition quickly, so it became clear that UW-Tacoma was my future.”

Soon after getting his bearings on campus, Cisco got involved in a student collective called The First Generation Fellowship. “I quickly found my peers and friends through there,” Cisco says. “A person within the Fellowship directed me to a lot of helpful resources that helped me navigate my final years of college. And that’s where I met Phanat Ny [my CSF College Success Coach].”

Phanat and Cisco met on a weekly basis in or around campus to talk about how his classes were going. “Once I started meeting with Phanat, I really connected with him and he resonated with me.” Cisco reflects fondly. “He taught me to be as involved as possible. And he unlocked a lot of peer support. There are a lot of other students [at CSF] that are dealing with similar things to me. He also would provide a different perspective that made me view my obstacles in a different way. [His help] allowed me to better communicate with resources I had on campus.”

In addition to camaraderie, Phanat directed Cisco to tools that could help with his financial situation. “At the time, I didn’t have a job,” Cisco recalls. “And finances were tight. Phanat let me know about the CSF Emergency Fund that I could apply for. It honestly let me stay in school. It would have been pretty hard to stay enrolled without it.” Developed in response to COVID-19’s negative impact on students, the CSF Emergency Fund was developed to provide CSF Scholars with short-term and/or one-time financial assistance for unexpected/unavoidable financial emergencies that directly impact or jeopardize continued enrollment in college.

Now a senior at University of Washington-Tacoma, Cisco is majoring in communications currently applying for a Master’s program in Business Analytics. His passion for soccer has not wavered, as he hopes to pursue a career in Sports for Development, a field that makes youth sports more accessible to underserved communities. His dream is to live and work in Mexico, where his professional efforts would help youth furthest from resources aspire for brighter futures. “If I didn’t have the resources [like CSF],” Cisco notes. “I wouldn’t have stayed in college. I know how important [these resources] were for me, and I would like to make them a reality for others.”