A. Atkinson: 6 years old.

2. How did you get involved with soccer?

A. Atkinson: I began playing soccer because of my parents.  My dad was my first coach on an all girls club team called the Mt. Tabor Comets in Portland, Oregon.  I took ballet for about three weeks and then I decided I liked mud a lot more than a tutu so I joined soccer and have been playing ever since.

3. What positions have you played?

A. Atkinson: Center midfield, right midfield, and striker.

4. Which position is your most favorite and least favorite? And why?

A. Atkinson: That is hard question, but center mid is my favorite position because I love being in the center of all that is happening on the field and I like to distribute and pass the ball to make plays.  It is a very exciting position because you have to constantly be moving, thinking and transitioning.  I like all the positions I have played, but striker would have to be the most challenging position for me because it takes extreme patience and I like being in the midfield where I can be both offensive and defensive.

5. How would you describe your experience on the national team?

A. Atkinson: Incredible.  It has shaped my life in many ways and I hae learned so much, both in the realm of soccer and personally.  The competition, the travel, and the relationships I have experienced through the national team are something that can never be replaced.

6. What would you like to share with all the other female soccer athletes about playing soccer for the national team?

A. Atkinson: It takes much dedication, determination, and hard work, but it is definitely something to strive for because the experience of the competition makes all of the training worth it.

7. What is the best part about training?

A. Atkinson: The opportunity to work with other good soccer players, where you push each other, support each other, and motivate each other to be better.

8. What is the hardest part about training?

A. Atkinson: The hardest part is the mental.  When I come to practice I have to be mentally ready to push myself to do my best for the entire practice even when I am tired, I had a bad day, we are doing wind sprints, or I have to master a new skill.  This is probably the most important part of training, but it is still hard.

9. If you were to do it all over again, would you?

A. Atkinson: Definitely.

10. What tips or secret ingredient would you give to others that desire to be on the national team?

A. Atkinson:Never give up, when you feel like quitting, always push even harder, commitment is the key, learn fast, and love what you do!

11. If you were a spokesperson for Guam Football Association Women’s Football and you need to give a speech to inspire your fellow female athletes, what would you say to promote soccer?

A. Atkinson:Soccer is a unique sport, it takes the chemistry of eleven players to make it work, and each goal is hard fought!  This sport binds people all over the world and is growing inpopularity, especially on the women’s side, so this is the time for remale athletes to step it up and take the challenge to improve soccer on Guam!

12. What is your fondest memory of playing soccer?

A. Atkinson: When the U-19 National team went to Taiwan this past November 2006.  I had the opportunity to be captain of a great team and the most bonded group of girls I have ever played with!  We did the “Botalalee” before every game and it was an amazing experience in all aspects!

13. What has been your biggest disappointment in football?

A. Atkinson: I don’t have too many disappointments in soccer, probably because the good times have the biggest place in my memory, but it was probably my freshmen year when our GW high school team lost 1-0 to Academy, and it would have been our big chance to make it to the championships.

14. What is your favorite type of music?

A. Atkinson: I like variety, but I’m not a fan of heavy metal.  I like to sing and dance to old music.

15. Favorite book?

A. Atkinson: The Bible

16. Your favorite film?

A. Atkinson: “Italian Job” or “Ocean’s 11”

17. Your favorite city?

A. Atkinson: Portland, Oregon; it is beautiful

18. Favorite hobby?

A. Atkinson: That is a tie between running, singing, or drawing.

19.  Who has been the most influential figure to you?
A. Atkinson: Both of my parents, each in their special ways.  I am who I am today because of them!

20. What is your main strength?

A. Atkinson: I think I am good at encouraging and motivating people.

21. What qualities do you appreciate?

A. Atkinson: A good listener, someone who is joyful, positive, kind, respectful, and able to laugh at him or herself.

22. What are you afraid of?

A. Atkinson: Snakes!!

23. Who would you most like to meet?

A. Atkinson: My Granpa Gil.  He is my mom’s dad who died when she was 10 years old.

24. Where do you see yourself in 3 years in regards to soccer?

A. Atkinson: I see myself playing college soccer at Biola University.

25. What are your goals/ambitions?

A. Atkinson: I have many, but here are a few:  I want to go back to Germany where I was born and take a bike trip around the counry with my whole family, I want to do missions work in another country for at least a year and help less fortunate people, I want to write a book, and I want to complete an Ironman triathlon someday.