At five years old, Stanley Chen (12) did not yet understand positions, tactics or rankings. But before he could run, he knew only to chase and crawl after the ball. Each year, that same instinct pulled him back to the field, where muddy cleats, early mornings and long drills slowly became second nature. 

As Stanley improved, he moved between teams and faced harder competition, but his love for the game remained constant, shaping both the passion with which he played and his connections with teammates. His steady commitment now defines him, leading to the present, where he stands as one of Harker’s best varsity soccer players and competes at the highest level of boys’ club soccer in the country.

Stanley began playing competitive youth soccer at 10, rising through various club teams that tested his skills and offered him a new community and experiences.

“Every single team was like a new family,” Stanley said. “I spend one and a half hours with these people every single day. I don’t remember much about the soccer part, but in terms of community, each time I switched teams was like a brand new world for me.”

As Stanley progressed to more competitive clubs, he often found himself on the bench. Rather than losing hope, he started training on his own outside of team practices, building endurance and skill through consistent effort that gradually improved his game. 

“It may sound cliché, but discipline is a big part of soccer,” Stanley said. “When people think of soccer, they think of flashy skill moves. But a big part of the sport is endurance — running laps around the field and doing other endurance exercises. Even though it’s monotonous and boring, it’s something you have to do to get better.”

Over time, his persistence paid off. Stanley currently plays for Silicon Valley Soccer Academy (SVSA) at the MLS NEXT level, the highest tier of youth club soccer in North America. With SVSA, he went to the MLS NEXT Playoffs, which features 32 elite youth soccer teams from around the continent. In the playoffs, he finished 16th once and 32nd twice. He attributes a substantial amount of this success to his new environment fostering a close-knit sense of community.

This emphasis now defines his approach on Harker’s varsity team, where he combines his technical skill with a collaborative mindset. Although he has played competitively for many years, Stanley joined the varsity boy soccer team only this season, balancing his other commitments with his club schedule. 

Varsity boys soccer coach Seena Sajadieh coached Stanley this season and noted that his leadership often emerges during moments of adversity.

“Something that doesn’t come naturally to players is what they do when the score is against them, or there’s a certain adversity,” Seena said. “Every time that’s happened for us this year, Stanley’s been very vocal. He’s not only leading by example, but he’s also trying to rally the rest of the team. It’s great that we have that on the team.”

Stanley’s teammates notice his influence off the field as well. Senior Cyrus Ghane has played with Stanley since sixth grade and admires how he pushes those around him to train with focus and energy.

“He’s always very focused,” Cyrus said. “He pushes me to work hard and train with intention and brings the energy as well. I always have fun with him during training sessions.”

Seena also noted that Stanley inspires the team through his energy, hard work, and willingness to help his teammates improve. 

“He’s very trusting and wants to work with others,” Seena said. “He wants to make others better and is easy to get along with. He’s quite positive with his body language and with what he says, so it naturally causes people to get attracted to him. He’s an excellent collaborator.”

Years of moving between teams and working for playing time have shaped Stanley’s approach to challenges both on and off the field. He learned early that persistence and effort often matter more than immediate results.

“Even in the face of failure, just keep going forward,” Stanley said. “I was a bench player for a long time, and even though I wasn’t getting a lot of minutes, I just kept continuing to play and give my all on the field. Looking back, it really didn’t matter — it’s really the experience that is important. Sometimes you have to do things you don’t want to do, but to achieve a goal, you have to go through those challenges.”