We recently connected with Michael Vang and have shared our conversation below.

Michael, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

My parents are the backbone of my career. They did everything they could to make sure I could be the best I possibly could be. They sacrificed their time to take me to my training and games. They paid for the fees that allowed me to play growing up. My dad is the one who taught me everything I know. He’s the reason I am who I am today. He criticizes me after every game and training session. We would spend hours going over game film just so he could help correct my mistakes. We would spend hours in the field training every single day. He gave me the tools I needed to become the player I am today. He wants me to succeed so badly that he’s willing to go above and beyond to help me get there. I’m so grateful for him to be by my side throughout this crazy journey. As for my mom, she’s the one that keeps me sane. She knows how to get my mind off soccer if I have to. I know she’s invested in my career by how much she’s learned about soccer. She understands the game better than some players. She’s my rock. I will never forget when I was 14, I would be waiting for her to come home from work, so she could take me to my training. She would have a full day of work and still come home, change, and take me to training without complaining. She would sit on the sidelines and watch the entire training session. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. This showed me how much she loves me and how much she’s willing to do for me. I would never take it for granted and I’ll always be grateful for her. So, what did they do right? Just about everything they possibly could.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Michael Vang. I was born and raised in St. Paul, MN. I’m a four-year professional soccer player. Currently playing for Portland Timbers 2 in the MLSNEXTPRO and Laos National Team. I’m most proud of being able to represent Laos in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. It was a dream to be able to play on the international stage. I hope that I can inspire the younger generation and show them that anything is possible through determination and hard work. Being the first Hmong professional soccer comes with responsibility, but also an honor. I hope to lead by example and be able to give the younger Hmong kids a person they can look up to and aspire to be.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect is when I get told that I inspired someone to play. This tells me that what I show on the field can motivate and inspire others. That’s always been my goal since I started playing. I don’t care about the fame. Fame will come when you perform well on the field. I care about being a role model to the young athletes. Leading by example and giving back in any way I can.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

A book I read called, Can’t Hurt Me, by David Goggins. It completely changed the way I thought about life and my problems. David Goggins is an absolute maniac when it comes to being a beast. He taught me how to be mentally stronger. He taught me that your mind and body are a lot stronger than you think it is. This book will inspire you to never take no for an answer.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelvang.8/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelvang.8

Image Credits
One Chill Chill Portland Timbers LeyTraveler I BOX