Taylor Graham of the Seattle Sounders may not live in a mansion, but he does have a girlfriend. So he at least has that going for him.

Whitman Middle School students learned those facts and more when Graham visited the school March 12 as part of Symetra Financial's campaign with the Sounders, "Active Bodies Active Minds."

Graham started playing soccer when he was 4 but was frustrated in high school because he wasn't as tall, muscular or fast as the other players.

He advised Whitman students not to worry about things that are beyond their control but focus on the things they can control, such as effort and energy.

He told the students to find classes they like in school and follow them because they will lead to what they are meant to do in life.

At Stanford, Graham started taking classes that interested him without realizing there was a pattern until an advisor let him know they were all part of an international relations degree.

Graham closed his presentation with a bet. If he could bounce the ball off his head 30 times in a row, the students would have to maintain perfect attendance forever. He did it on the first try.

Graham, a defender for the Seattle Sounders, has been playing soccer professionally, including a number of seasons with the old United Soccer League Seattle Sounders, for eight years.

Also, his favorite color is blue and Taylor can be a boy's or a girl's name.