For senior Parisa Abedi, the soccer field has always felt like home. After twelve years of dedication to soccer, she has formally committed to the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa (UH).
An incoming Division I athlete, Parisa said her journey was fueled by the support and encouragement of her family.
“Parisa is a very creative player and she has this flair and vision that I don’t see in other people,” said Passi Abedi, Parisa’s mom. “To this day, when I watch her play, that’s what sticks her apart.”
Parisa’s start to soccer was simple: her mom thought it was vital she learned a team sport. But it didn’t take long for soccer to become her passion. By sixth grade, Parisa’s competitive spirit and dedication took her to Bay Area Surf Soccer Club, where she trained to reach her current elite level.
“I knew I had the drive and dedication to continue soccer in college that a lot of people my age don’t have,” Parisa said. “I want to use my abilities to my advantage.”
According to senior Neda Abedi — Parisa’s sister and teammate — Parisa’s ability to be unpredictable on the field and keep the other team guessing has become one of her most respected qualities.
For Parisa, getting recruited wasn’t a challenge — but her decision to attend to UH was. Right when the commitment window opened, Parisa received tempting offers from UH, Oregon State University, California State University, Long Beach and Davidson College. Ultimately, even though it was far from home, Parisa knew Hawai’i was where she wanted to go because of the community.
“The coaches truly make you feel like family,” Parisa said. “And there’s such a strong sense of team camaraderie that I can’t wait to be a part of.”
UH was also a strong academic fit for Parisa, offering excellent programs in both her fields of interest: psychology and business. Parisa plans to major in psychology to gain a deeper understanding of the minds of athletes like herself.
As Parisa wraps up her final year of high school, she is now prepared for the next big adventure in her life. Parisa is most excited to experience playing for new coaches, building new friendships with teammates and experiencing college life, despite the challenges of being so far from home.
“She puts her heart out there for everything she does,” Neda said. “She has this willingness to go after things that really separates her from everyone else.”
Reflecting on her journey, Parisa’s bigger advice to younger athletes is “to never give up.”
“Throughout this whole journey, there have been so many challenging moments for me, but so many moments I can learn from,” Parisa said. “I now know that after the storm, there’s always a rainbow.”
