Jaya Soor, ’25, is realizing her lifelong dream of playing the sport she loves at the professional level.

Soor is playing for CD Doña Blanca in the Tercera Federación Femenina league in Spain. The team is based in El Puerto de Santa María, a coastal town in the southwest part of the country.

“Being paid to play the game I love, and have it as my full-time job, is such a privilege and something I have dreamed about since I was a kid,” Soor said. “I am completely focused on improving my craft and am constantly learning, growing, and pushing myself to get better in everything I do.”

A native of Derby, England, Soor arrived at Midland in 2023 after spending the first two years of her college career at North Iowa Area Community College. She quickly made her mark on the Warrior squad and would earn second-team All-GPAC honors her senior year, as well as being named to the CSC Academic All-District squad.

She credits many coaches and mentors during her time at Midland who pushed her to get better. “I will always be grateful to Coach (Keri) Heedum for believing in me and giving me the opportunity to grow and develop as a player and a person,” Soor said. “Coach (Christian) Sanchez played an integral role in my growth, and I will always support and appreciate the guidance and support he provided. Jonny Estrada (Senior Admissions Counselor) consistently went above and beyond to help me improve as a player. He would take time to help me understand the game better, and he played such a crucial role in my development.”

As someone who was heavily involved on campus, including her time as an Admissions Ambassador, Soor said there was a campus-wide impact on her life.

“The staff at Midland had an enormous and positive impact on me,” she said. “I was constantly surrounded by incredible people who genuinely cared about my development, growth, and goals. They made being at Midland the most enjoyable and greatest years of my life.”

Beyond the people, her most significant support has come from her faith as God has pushed her to be at her best, both on and off the pitch.

“My faith is truly, and always will be, the foundation of my journey and success,” she said. “Every bit of strength I’ve had to push through challenges and overcome adversities has come from God. While I will continue to work hard, all the glory ultimately belongs to God for giving me the chance to live out this dream and the ability to make it a reality.”

Soor graduated with a degree in Business Administration last May. She is grateful for the foundation Midland established for her as an athlete, a professional, and a person.

“Midland allowed me to become a completely new and better version of myself that I didn’t know existed,” she said. “Being surrounded by like-minded people who genuinely wanted the best for me was crucial. Midland was the first place I had been where talking about my dreams wasn’t unrealistic or out of reach. Instead, my goals were always supported, encouraged, and pushed to be pursued.”