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In her first public appearance since being arrested for a DUI, former U.S. women’s soccer player Abby Wambach described the challenges she’s overcome in what she sees as a gender-biased world, and enlisted the crowd to become a part of the conversation on gender equality.

At 12 years old, Abby Wambach’s mother recognized the challenge to gender equality her daughter would face into her adulthood when she enrolled her in a boys soccer program.

From having her wife referred to as a “friend” by one media outlet when they embraced after team USA won the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015, to continuing to receive a fraction of what her male equivalents received for poorer performance in competitions, Wambach urged the crowd at Memorial Hall to join the conversation even if they didn’t agree.

Wambach’s former teammates filed a suit against the U.S. Soccer Federation on the basis of wage discrimination, comparing their earnings to the men’s team and pointing out that they received about a quarter of what they earned.

“Thinking about what I want to do in terms of my future, I want to make sure that all people, not just women, people of different orientations who are different (races), sexuality, whatever it is that there is a representative of everyone,” Wambach said.

As the youngest of seven kids in upstate New York, Wambach’s pursuit of a soccer career began when her older sister wanted to play, and her parents got a “how to play soccer” instructional guide from the library to teach the kids.

Wambach said she immortalized women like two-time World Cup champion Mia Hamm, and athletes like Michael Jordan who prompted her to push for excellence. Wambach credited the ball handling and hand-eye coordination she received playing basketball for her ability to dominate other players with her headers.

Since retiring from her decorated career in professional soccer, Wambach said the support of her family and friends has made her feel more stable as she undertakes the next part of her life, struggles and all.

“My family really kind of rallied around me. I’m learning that a lot now,” Wambach said, speaking about her difficulty transitioning into a life without professional soccer.

At the front of the line to the event that stretched nearly across South Limestone stood Ashton Hall, a Spanish sophomore unwilling to step out of line or drop her “I believe that we will win” sign for a moment.

She carried that sign to Winnipeg and back to display it when the U.S. women’s team won the World Cup in 2015, and she brought it to Memorial Hall to recreate that moment.

“I love the U.S. women’s national team and Abby. She’s been my role model since I was little and she’s literally a legend. Her head, is like, made of gold. She can head anything into the goal,” Hall said.

In light of Wambach’s DUI, Hall said she understands it was just a mistake and still respected Wambach for owning up to it.

Wambach began the event apologizing for the embarrassment she caused her family or friends for the DUI, and ended the evening thanking the students for hearing her out as she pursues this dialogue she hopes will change the sporting industry and societies gender inequality for future generations.