Above: SOAR interns LaMia Morrow and Jackson Gastelo talk shoe design at the group’s visit to the Birdies store. Top: Kaitlin Lewis takes notes.

Kaitlin Lewis

School: View Park HS; headed to UC Santa Barbara in the fall

Angel City FC Community Impact Partner: ICEF Public Schools

Shadowing: Angel City FC Marketing Department

Headed to UC Santa Barbara in the fall

What do you like learning about?

I like learning about almost anything that intrigues me. Academically, I enjoy biology, chemistry, and humanities/culture. Outside of the classroom, I am currently teaching myself ASL and I like learning new hobbies like crocheting.

What are your short- and long-term goals?

After high school I will be attending UCSB majoring in pre-biology. I plan to get my undergraduate degree there and then attend Stanford University for Medical School to achieve my career goal of becoming a pediatric dermatologist.

Maya Montes-Rodriguez

Angel City FC Community Impact Partner: Play Equity Fund

Shadowing: Angel City FC Partnership Sales 

Headed to UCLA in the fall 

What do you like learning about?

I enjoy learning about my culture (Chicano and Mexican culture) and about the history of people of color in the US. I also enjoy learning about human-related science and philosophy.

What are your short- and long-term goals?

I currently plan on attending UCLA and majoring in Human Biology and Society. I hope to take internship, volunteer, and study abroad opportunities so that I can maximize my education and learn about the different career possibilities. At this point in time, I’m looking to pursue a career in the medical field as a physician’s assistant or in sports medicine. I’m also curious about work as a medical examiner and managing my own business.

I would also enjoy running a small business outside of my main career. I make jewelry, bake, and crochet, and I also might be interested in starting a small business to support aerial arts for youth of color.

Regardless of my career, I will stay an active athlete. I will continue to practice aerial gymnastics, and hope that I can continue with Crossfit, judo, and archery. I also want to be able to continue performing.

LaMia Morrow

Angel City FC Community Impact Partner: Football For Her

Shadowing: Angel City FC Partnership Sales Department 

What are your short- and long-term goals?

My short-term goals post-high school would be to be in college studying to become either a physical therapist or an athletic trainer, and to be playing college soccer. Long-term would be to get signed by a professional women’s soccer club. If soccer doesn’t work out, my long-term goal would be working for a professional sport organization like the NBA, NWBA, MLB, NFL, or even the NWSL as a physical therapist.

Why did you apply for the SOAR Internship?

I applied for the SOAR Internship to gain experience in the business aspect behind the sport of soccer—basically to learn what makes a soccer club run successfully.

Annaly Sanchez

Angel City FC Community Impact Partner: Football For Her

Shadowing: Angel City FC Public Relations Department

Who is a mentor in your life?

My soccer trainer, Stephanie, is a mentor in my life. I look up to her because she likes to help younger athletes accomplish and work toward their goals. She played soccer throughout her life and loves the sport so much that she continues to have it in her life.

What are your short- and long-term goals?

Short term, I would like to attend a four-year college. As of right now, my possible majors are kinesiology and sports communications/marketing. Kinesiology is a major I am interested in because I have taken sports medicine classes at school and I would like to be either an athletic trainer or physical therapist. Sports communications and marketing is interesting to me as well because I have experience in managing social media accounts for several different activities at my school. I really enjoy sharing my work with my community and hope to bring others together through the posts.

Long term, I would like to be an athletic trainer or work in the sports field somehow. I love sports and know I always want them in my life. I would also like to volunteer and help younger athletes. When my schedule allows, I help coach my trainer’s youth soccer team and it is something I really enjoy doing.