Carlos Ruiz Quotes

Many European guys go to the N.H.L. at a young age, even without knowing English. But they quickly adapt to new conditions, another game, a new country. They are also young, receptive, can move mountains.

If I had the opportunity to speak to a young immigrant girl that just arrived to the U.S. the advice I would have for her would be: ask, speak, search; because there are opportunities out there. And, know that you aren't the only immigrant or the last to come to this country. Many that have come before you have succeeded. It is possible.

Coming from the Philippines to the U.S. did shape me in that it gave me perseverance.

I had a lot of challenges starting school, and my dad says I would come home every day crying and feeling bad about the problems I was having with some of the kids. And he would tell me to work hard on learning the language.

Kids made fun of me because I was a slow learner, because I was hyperactive, because of a lot of things. Running gave me confidence.

I won't back down. I get a satisfaction from being tested and defeating the test.

You know, if I can survive marching band, I can survive anything.

I came to New York in 1986. My father didn't think it was a good idea. I didn't know how I found it, but I went to Hunter College. I had no money and I couldn't speak English.

I think my teammates make me look a lot better than I am.

I had some difficult times when I first moved to Los Angeles when people would tell me I was saying things wrong. I felt different although my mum kept reminding me it was OK to be different.

I started acting when I was really young. I came to the States and didn't know anyone, and I spoke with a weird Irish accent.

Sports provides that tool kit to be successful in life. Because it's not always going to be smooth sailing.

We can climb mountains with self-love.

You just have your teammates and yourself out there to pick you up, so just kind of shows you how strong you really can be.

Every Hispanic player goes through that. It's a lot of hard work, to be able to communicate with your teammates. English is fundamental to be able to express yourself fully in a game.

I felt like the Germans were being mean to me at training, but they were actually just trying to help. I learned really quick - which made me a better player. I'm appreciative of the way they treated me. It's just the language and, of course, as an American, I had to learn that. No offense to them; I love them to death, and I love my teammates.

I feel really good at Everton. My team-mates are helping me with my confidence on the field, and that is vital. And being part of the Brazil national team has been really important for my morale and a positive thing for my confidence.

It's frustrating when you don't feel like you help the team like you should, but at the end of the day there's going to be ups and downs and it's how you react.

The first season in a new country like England is very difficult.

I've played basketball all of my life, and I've had things happen on the court that you eventually have to move on from. It's part of some of the obstacles that you meet in trying to reach your pinnacle.

Finding your feet in a new country provides an enormous boost to your confidence and independence.

The only thing I can do is move forward and try to put myself in the best position to help this team win, and whatever decisions they make, I will just have to deal with it.

As a child, it was really hard because I'd be thrown into a new school and have to make new friends, or I'd sit in class for months without speaking the language, but as I got older, I welcomed the possibility of discovering new cultures and languages.

I get booed everywhere I go. If that can take that off my teammates, that's good. Everyone else can just be calm.

I've always been criticised, but the important, that's what my team thinks. Others, I don't care about their opinion; they speak in the void. Social networks give them a voice, but I don't listen it.