“One of my favorite things about Northwood is having the opportunity to be around so many different cultures and learning from them whilst also being able to share mine. Another one of my favorite things is the different experiences I’ve been afforded since being here, like the trips, going to new places, and playing other teams from different countries.
“My favorite memory is going to Las Vegas with the soccer team. It was great to experience a new, fancy place whilst doing what I love most, playing soccer. As a team, we had so much fun when we went down to the strip and got to ride the roller coaster. We also played some good teams and got first place in our group. I played pretty well, and I will remember that trip forever.
“I decided to come to Northwood because of the opportunity that was presented to me. I always say that it was not something I was looking for, but once the opportunity appeared, I took it right away. I was conscious that if I came here, I would be very far from home, missing my family and friends, but I was aware of the great opportunity to further my academics and soccer career in a new environment with a new language and different people. I will never regret my decision; being 15 hours away from home by plane was worth it, and Northwood has become my second family.
“Northwood has prepared me for the future in many ways. Firstly, my English has improved a lot since I came here, and that is a tool that I will need my entire life to communicate, to work, and interact with people. Northwood also taught me big life lessons like new cultures that I’ve learned from a lot throughout my two years so far. This will be useful whenever I travel and meet new people. I’ve improved my game in soccer a lot, thanks to our coaches and teammates. I’ve learned a completely different style of the game for me, which helped me get better and combine my South American style of play with my American one.”
As told to Jace Donowa ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.
