Ever since I was a kid, all I ever wanted for Christmas was sports gear. Every. Single. Year. The year I finally got a full replica football set? I lived in it. I wore the pads around the house and acted like I was a superstar wide receiver. My mom and dad probably thought they’d never get me out of that helmet. Even today, I can never pass up an opportunity to slide on a helmet and daydream a bit. 

Growing up, I took my dream very seriously. I used to write “contracts” for my parents, real clauses and all, saying that if they agreed to buy me football equipment and sign me up for Pop Warner, then I’d play. I have no idea why they kept signing them. They must've known agreements signed by minors weren't valid. I used to spend hours on the computer looking up gear I couldn't afford, reading reviews, and even customizing uniforms online just for fun. Football wasn’t just something I liked; it was who I was.

Even with all that passion, football always felt out of reach. I have albinism and a visual impairment, and even though my parents always told me I could do anything, it was hard to believe that included football. I was a girl trying to break into a sport that didn't make room for girls, and I couldn’t see as well as everyone else. So most days, the dream felt more like a fantasy.

Still, I never stepped away from the game. When I got to college, I became an equipment manager for a Division I football program. I  passed. out gear, packed travel trunks, fitted helmets, whatever the team needed. It kept me close to the sport I loved, even if I wasn’t the one running the plays. Being on the sidelines was enough to make it all worth it.

Funny enough, all those football "contracts” I wrote turned into something real: I decided to become an attorney. 9-year-old Lauren really knew writing contracts was a great business to be in. I’m now in my last year of law school, hoping to use my education to help other athletes chase their own dreams.

But the part of me that wanted to play never went away.

This year, I finally decided to take a chance and try out for a professional women’s football team, the Jersey Shore Wave. I showed up convinced I wasn’t going to make it because after wanting something for so long, it’s safer to expect disappointment than let yourself believe it could finally happen.

Then the craziest thing happened:  I made the team!

Just like that, something I had wanted since I was little, something I thought was impossible for a girl with albinism, finally came true. I’m officially a professional football player!

Women’s football is still mostly self-funded, which means players cover their own gear, transportation, and team dues. As a full-time law student already taking on the full cost of tuition, books, and other everyday expenses, this is something I cannot do alone. Any support helps more than I can put into words. Truly. You aren't just helping me play a sport, you're helping me live a dream that is 20 years in the making.

Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for supporting my team. Most importantly, thank you for helping keep the dream going. Not just for me, but for every girl who grew up thinking football wasn’t an option.