Lillian Nassanga

When I met Lillian, I knew she was special. At first glance, she's very shy and one of the more studious, serious students but as time wore on (and I'd like to think, as I grew on her...aka wore her down!), she began to open up. I learned she had an incredible singing voice and although shy when a song first started up, by the end she was up front, clapping and leading the rest of the kids. I also learned Lillian has dreams of becoming a lawyer. Or a chemist - it depends on the week you ask, but with either one, I know she has what it takes. She is independently driven and has a great interest in learning about the world around her. She is always studying when I see her; unless that is, she is playing football.

Now maybe I have to say this as her "coach" but this girl is one heck of a goalkeeper. She is 14 and certainly up to par if not better than many keepers my age. She has no fear on the pitch and will dive, jump and try to block any ball. Unlike most girls her age, she is not afraid to get dirty. I love to watch her play, to see her determination to be the best keeper she can be. Throughout my time with Lillian, she and I have worked on her confidence and keeping her head up even after she is scored on or her team looses. It's been a challenge, for sure, but with each goal that is scored on her, I can see a little less frustration in her face and that same determination to do better. And these aren't just any goals - unfortunately many of the matches for our girls team are against girls twice their size, often times bigger than me! So, for a young keeper like Lillian, she does pretty damn well!

My big accomplishment: Capturing Lillian's beautiful, but rare, smile

One thing that does trouble me about Lillian's situation is her home life. I worry she does not get the support she needs to really, truly succeed; to become the best lawyer or chemist or footballer than she can be. She lives with her step-mother and her father, although her father is absent most of the time save for Sunday mornings which he usually spends dotting over his youngest. As I've mentioned before, step-mothers here don't have the best reputation and it's not for nothing: When I visit Lillian at home, she is withdrawn and often will hide behind a curtain while I sit with her step-mother and the baby. Although I had no intention of visiting with the mother, it's customary to sit and greet the adults before anything else. So greet we do and it's usually pleasant but the conversation inevitably leads to Lillian; her step-mother complains that Lillian "must be the dirtiest girl in school-just look at her uniform." She's not...by a long shot! Or that "maybe I should run Lillian on the pitch more, she could stand to loose some weight." That one always cracks me up, as Lillian's step-mother has quite the round figure herself...but I digress. I politely try to point out the positives about her step-daughter, even invite her come watch a match, yet so far have not been taken up on that offer...

To be honest, I never really know if I am getting through to Lillian; to let her know she has a friend and she can talk to me (or Courtney or Adam). That we are here for her and love and support her. Some days are good-when we see her she will smile but then, like a few others, cover it up and turn the other way (I'll never understand!). But other days, I feel like there are so many layers to uncover. I see so much potential in this vibrant, hard-working, incredible young girl, I just wish her family would, too!