Owning Who You Are
When I think back to my middle school years, one of my favorite memories is playing varsity lacrosse alongside my two older sisters. I was only in 6th and 7th grade, but all three of us started at attack—it still is one of my favorite lacrosse memories.
When my oldest sister Grace graduated in 2017, Florida became the first (and still the only, to my knowledge) state to require helmets in high school lacrosse.
Around that time, my dad decided he wanted to make sure he could always spot me and my sister Stela on the field. And if you know my dad, you know he doesn’t do anything halfway. He ordered us custom Under Armour Highlight cleats—bright, bold, with the words “Daddy’s Girl” on them.
At first, Stela and I were horrified. We didn’t want to wear something so loud and especially shoes that said "Daddy's Girl."
But then my dad explained: “There are going to be moments when you mess up on the field and feel like getting down on yourself. But when that happens, I want you to look down at your ankle and see Daddy’s Girl—a reminder that no matter what happens, I will love you unconditionally.”
From that moment on, those cleats meant something different. We wore them with pride, and soon enough we were known as the “Daddy’s Girl Sisters.” What started as embarrassment became a badge of honor.
Since then, I’ve always made sure to stand out on the field—now with spatting my cleats bright pink. And I’ve learned two powerful lessons about myself:
I like the attention and focus that comes with standing out.
It’s not about what others think—it’s about what you think.
That’s the message I want to share with you: don’t be afraid to lean into who you are.
Embrace it. Celebrate it. Own it.
Because when you do, you’ll find a confidence that no one can take away.
The photo here is from a shoot before my sophomore year of high school, rocking my bright cleats. To me, they’ll always be more than just shoes—they’re a reminder to never shy away from being my authentic self.
With you always,
Sofia
