Alejandro’s Story: A Life of Friends, Family, and Soccer

Photo courtesy of Alejandro Gonzalez.

Many students dislike soccer, but Alejandro Gonzalez, a middle schooler who grew up in Venezuela, dreams of becoming a professional soccer player. Since moving to New York, he persists in that dream, convinced that one day he might have a better chance of being accepted into a soccer club if he travels to Spain. For Gonzalez, soccer is more than just a pastime: it’s more like a lifestyle.

Gonzalez arrived at CHAH a year and a half ago. However, he feels that the school has been very friendly to him, in addition to being creative and beautiful. During this time, Gonzalez made several friends who occasionally play soccer with him. Perhaps one thing he appreciates is that even though most students aren’t passionate about soccer, his friends support him. In addition, there’s a soccer team that middle schoolers play on in extracurricular activities after school. This helped him feel more comfortable and welcomed at his new school.

Gonzalez experiences a pleasant relationship with his family, since it is based on love and trust between them to achieve their goals and support each other at all times. When he lived in Venezuela, Gonzalez enjoyed spending time with his grandparents and cousins. “I was with my grandparents, I played with my cousins ​​and it was all very beautiful,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez has always played soccer since he was little. “I’ve played soccer since I was four years old,” Gonzalez said. This was his daily routine in Venezuela, from the moment he left school, going to his training sessions. But when he arrived in New York, all he did was visit places and go out with his parents. His life has been different from what he had in Venezuela since he arrived in New York, “Here the climate and the lifestyle are different,” Gonzalez said.

Although he doesn’t have the same lifestyle as before, soccer wasn’t just a hobby for him, but rather a way of life. His dedication grew over time, and he began to dream of being a professional player. But since he arrived in New York, although he plays for the CHAH team, he feels that it is more difficult to be recruited by an academy or club. This is probably because basketball and baseball are some of the most popular sports in New York City.

For these reasons, Gonzalez believes that if he travels to Spain in the future, he has a better chance of perhaps pursuing a career as a professional soccer player.”I feel that in Spain I can grow more as a soccer player and gain more experience,” Gonzalez said. “I feel like Spain has good academies, and maybe it’s easier for a talent scout to spot me.”

He hopes to one day train with a team there in Spain and show what he’s capable of. With determination, family support, and a clear dream in mind, Gonzalez continues to be diligent, step by step, toward his goal. 

One piece of advice Gonzalez would give to someone who is entering a new country and must adapt to a new life is, “try not to get into trouble and study hard,”.For now, he is enjoying being part of the football club, learning everything he can and waiting for the right opportunity to achieve his big dream with the help of those who love him.