Brookland Brotherhood
Lyam, USA
Lyam is a poet-athlete who participates in DC SCORES' after-school soccer, poetry, and service learning program. Every year, DC SCORES' award-winning program serves more than 3,500 young people at 68 District of Columbia public and public charter schools.
The program brings together youth from across D.C. for soccer matches and tournaments, poetry slams, and other events. DC SCORES has operated in D.C. since 1994 and is the founding affiliate of the Official World Cup Legacy program, The SCORES Network, which operates in 13 cities across North America.
My name is Lyam and I am 14 years old. I am a student at Brookland Middle School in D.C. One of my favorite things in the world is soccer. When I was in 7th grade I decided I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself so I joined Brookland’s soccer team. I will be attending Banneker High School this year. My ambitions for the future are becoming a top notch engineer and attending MIT.
What did you try to show with the photos? Was there any wider meaning with the photos?
The photos are all about my teammates and my friends. All the photos were taken in, near, or close to Brookland Middle School or our soccer field at Turkey Thicket Recreation Center, which is next door to our school. This is where our Brookland DC SCORES team practices and hosts matches.
With these photos I tried to show how Brookland’s soccer team is united and forever remains strong. The wider meaning behind the photos was to spread a message of brotherhood and how sports connect people.
My favorite photo is the one where three of my teammates are walking towards the soccer field talking to each other. It is my favorite because it shows the brotherhood everyone has in Coach K’s team. Coach K is Coach Nathan Kundrat, who is a DC SCORES coach and science teacher at Brookland.
There is also a photo of me and my best friend. He was one of the first people I met during my time at Brookland. He has been with me for a long time.
What do you do at DC SCORES? What impact has DC SCORES and playing soccer had on you?
At DC SCORES we build brotherhood while playing soccer. We create bonds and friendships. It is an organization that helps kids in public schools unite and play soccer in a great environment. DC SCORES and soccer has had a positive impact on me. It has pushed me to do my best on and off the field.
Taking part in soccer and poetry with DC SCORES makes me feel like I am part of something bigger than myself. The thing I like the most are the people I have met along the way.
What do you think the future looks like for soccer in DC and the USA? What would you like to change?
I see soccer in DC and the USA as being the third most popular sport in America after American football and basketball. I would like to change some of my peers' opinion of soccer by showing them how fun it is and how it could improve their lives, like it improved mine.
