Senior spotlight: Aaliyah Myhand

School: La Feria
Sport: Soccer

When did you start playing soccer? I started playing soccer in seventh grade for the first time, but it wasn’t until freshman year that I wanted to better myself at the sport.

What position do you usually play? I usually play defense, either center-back or full back.

What do you like most about soccer? I like the intensity of the sport, and how my team can come together and play with all that we have. Alongside that I loved the laughs and good times that we all had during practice.

Do you play any other sports? No, I dedicated my time to soccer only.
What are you currently doing to stay active? Currently I am trying to run at least a mile a day and practicing soccer with my younger sisters and cousin.

Who is your favorite professional athlete? My favorite athlete is Alex Morgan.

What is your favorite food? My favorite food is chicken alfredo.

What is your favorite movie? My all time favorite is “Nacho Libre.”

Who is your favorite actor or actress? My favorite actor is John Krasinski.

What is your favorite book? My favorite book is “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green.

What is your favorite subject in school? My favorite subject in school has been history.

What subject do you wish you didn’t have to take? Science is definitely a subject I wish I didn’t have to take.

What is your favorite color? My favorite color is blue.

What is your favorite animal? My favorite animal is the llama.

If you could live in any city in the world, where would that be? I would live in San Francisco, California.

If you could have dinner with a famous person, past or present, who would you dine with? I would dine with my favorite musician, Khalid. He is a kind and light-hearted person.

What is something most people don’t know about you? Most people don’t know that I wanted to grow up to be a photographer.

Do you plan on going to college? If so, where? I plan on attending UTRGV in Edinburg.

What do you want to major in? I’m going to major in accounting.

What would you like to do in the future? In the future, I want to become an accountant and be able to help those in need.

Talk a little bit about what it’s been like having to endure this break. It has been a little strange. Even going to the store is a scary experience, which is something that we are all new to. I miss my friends very much but I know it is better for our safety that we remain isolated from each other. I think the fact that I had so many things that I didn’t get to do is sad. Nevertheless, with the support of my family and the community, I know everything is going to be OK.

How did having the season canceled right before the playoffs feel? I was very sad that the season was cancelled before the playoffs. I was excited to see how far we could have gotten as a team. I felt like I didn’t get that closure after our last game because I didn’t realize the last game that I played would be my last.

Were you surprised the UIL decided to ultimately cancel all spring sports? I was genuinely shocked because I had hoped that we would go back and go into the playoffs, but deep down I knew that if professional sporting events were being cancelled then, ultimately, they would cancel our season as well. I really felt for those other sports, track and softball, who didn’t even get their seasons started.

What have you learned from this unprecedented experience? During this pandemic, I learned to not take life for granted. It’s important to live every moment like it’s your last. My fun part of my senior year was cancelled and I wish that I really did more to cherish those moments I did have. I realized that those days when I was having fun in practice or walking onto the field on game day was officially over.