LIVING MY DREAM
By Chase Stegall
I can’t tell you exactly what happened.
All I know is that I had a seizure.
And all I remember is waking up in the hospital.
But when I opened my eyes, there was Mark Plotkin, my head soccer coach, standing next to me.
He’d left practice and had come to the hospital to see how I was doing.
He stayed there for hours with me.
My teammates and friends constantly checked up on me, too. They’d helped me get to the hospital, and sent me texts to make sure I was doing OK.
Their kindness, their care, stayed with me.
Knowing that my head coach and teammates cared about me that much was the moment I knew that DePaul was the right place for me.
It didn’t matter that I was eventually redshirted that season and didn’t see the field.
I could have transferred and found a new school, a new program.
And yet, I knew nothing would compare to the family I had found here.
I knew I could make an impact here, and that’s exactly what I’m trying to do every single day.
Getting Serious
Like most kids, I started playing soccer when I was really young, around three years old.
I played it every fall for a while, but I didn’t start taking it seriously until I reached fifth grade.
That’s when I made the decision to quit football and focus solely on playing soccer year-round.
I still played basketball, though, and honestly, it wasn’t until the quarantine that I realized I should start taking soccer more seriously if I wanted to play in college.
I knew I had a better future in soccer than basketball, so I started asking college players about their experiences and how they got there.
When I started my recruitment process, I was primarily getting offers from local schools in Georgia and Florida. While those offers were encouraging, I didn’t feel like any of them were the right fit for me.
Then, everything changed during a showcase in Dallas.
I played exceptionally well, and that’s when I started receiving more attention from college coaches.
One of those coaches was Plotty — DePaul’s head coach, Mark Plotkin.
He reached out to me after a game in Atlanta and expressed interest in seeing me play in person.
In December of my senior year, he came to watch me at a showcase in California, and that’s when he officially offered me a spot at DePaul.
The combination of a great school, playing the sport I love, and being in the vibrant city of Chicago seemed like an amazing opportunity.
I was ready for the next chapter.
Through Adversity
My freshman year at DePaul was challenging, to say the least.
I had a redshirt season due to my injury, which was incredibly frustrating.
But I knew the coaches had a plan for me, and I had to trust the process.
It was a learning experience that made me appreciate the game even more and reminded me how much I loved playing soccer.
Despite the setbacks, I never considered leaving DePaul.
The coaches and my teammates were there for me every step of the way.
Getting through that adversity fueled me to have a strong second year.
I was playing a lot more up top and ended up scoring my first goal, which was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had.
I’ll never forget it.
I remember getting subbed on in a really hot game on Labor Day weekend. There was a big crowd, and I had a lot of adrenaline pumping through my system.
I was pressing the goalkeeper, and we got on a counterattack.
My teammate crossed the ball, and I just tried to get a foot on it.
Luckily, I did, and it went in.
It was an incredible feeling to see all my teammates running to the corner flag and celebrating with me.
It’s continued to motivate me to work hard and make an impact.
Knowing that my head coach and teammates cared about me that much was the moment I knew that DePaul was the right place for me. It didn’t matter that I was eventually redshirted that season and didn’t see the field. I could have transferred and found a new school, a new program. And yet, I knew nothing would compare to the family I had found here.
Motivating Others
As a redshirt sophomore now, my role on the team has expanded.
I’m really trying to help and mentor my teammates, too, especially the younger guys.
I’m used to that responsibility.
One of the most important things for me is to set a good example for my younger brother, who looks up to me.
He’s 16 years old and in high school, and I want to make sure he’s prepared for the world he’s about to enter and that he has the right mindset and focus to succeed.
That’s something that’s on my mind a lot as a Black student-athlete, especially during the month of February.
It’s a time to honor the hardships and struggles that our community has faced to get to where we are today.
It’s also a chance to pay tribute to those who came before us and paved the way for young African-American men like myself to have those kinds of opportunities.
I draw inspiration from athletes like Mario Balotelli, who faced racism but continued to play his game and make an impact.
His story is one of many that’s inspired me. It’s also made me want to show other young Black athletes that they can succeed in soccer and other sports.
It’s not always easy, but it’s possible.
My Future
Looking ahead, my goal is to continue growing as a player and a leader.
I want to make a significant impact on my team and help us achieve success.
But beyond the stats and wins, I want to be a positive influence on my teammates, especially the younger players.
I want to show them what it means to be a dedicated and committed athlete and help them navigate the challenges of college sports.
My journey as a student-athlete at DePaul has been filled with ups and downs, but through it all, I’ve found a supportive community that cares about me.
From waking up in the hospital with my coach by my side to scoring my first college goal, I’ve experienced the highs and lows of playing this sport.
It’s helped me learn the value of resilience, dedication, and representation.
The DePaul community has meant everything to me, and reminded me every day that I’m living my dream.
I can’t wait to see what’s next.
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