As August rolls around, most recent high school graduates are gearing up for their freshman year of college.
In setting out to begin an exciting chapter of their lives, the challenge of living away from home for the first time arises for many. Some might choose to attend colleges in areas close by, while others will go out of state and explore different atmospheres.
But for 2017 Tech graduate Isaac Perez, things are a little different. In fact, they’re much different.
Perez, who shined on the school’s varsity boys soccer team at goalie for two seasons, will travel to Valencia, Spain this month in hopes of pursuing a professional career.
“I’m more nervous than anything but I’m pretty excited about it,” Perez said. “There aren’t a lot of people around here that are going to get the same experience that I’m about to get.”
Perez, who’s of Guatemalan and Puerto Rican descent, has never been to Spain. Although he speaks fluent Spanish, Perez will still face the challenges that come with living in a different country and embracing a new culture.
“I’m nervous,” Perez said. “I speak Spanish but I’ve talked to people from Valencia and they’ve told me that they have their own dialect over there. My father is Guatemalan and my mom’s Puerto Rican so I’ve been speaking Spanish since I was a baby.
“It’s a scary experience knowing that no one will be around me,” Perez added. “I have to meet new people and it’s scary to think about. At the same time, I’m excited. I’ll be the only one there from here so I’ll get to stand out a little bit.”
Perez will be participating in Global Premier Soccer’s FAB Academy in Valencia. The Valencia program is new for GPS but the organization has seen success from a similar program based in London.
GPS reached out to Perez after scouting him at one of his games with the Tigers.
“They sent an email to my mom saying that they were interested in having me there,” Perez said. “I was really excited. My parents knew that it was a great opportunity. My father told me that I had to go for it. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Aside from the challenges that come with getting accustomed to the new culture in Valencia, Perez knows the level of competition he’ll match up against will be top-notch. It helps Perez’s cause that his coaches and teammates have helped prepare him along the way.
“I know soccer is the main sport in Europe so it’s going to be very competitive,” Perez, who began playing soccer at the age of four, said. “I feel that the games I’ve played in here and the coaches I’ve played for in high school and in club teams have definitely prepared me but this is going to be a whole new level of soccer.”
While Perez chases his dream of becoming a professional player in Valencia, he’ll have the full support of one of his biggest fans back home in Tech soccer coach Jeremy McKeen. Having coached Perez for three years at Tech, McKeen was a firsthand witness to the qualities that make the goalie a special player.
“I think Isaac definitely has what it takes,” McKeen said. “He has the skills and dedication. He’s been a role model for our boys and I’m beyond proud of him.
“Coaching Isaac was great,” McKeen added. “If I had a whole team of Isaacs, that would be ideal. Him and the other members of the dedicated core needed specific coaching and teamwork but they were solid, dedicated players. Isaac’s a player that you need in order to make the state tournament.”
Perez captained the Tigers his senior season and served as an ideal leader for his teammates to look up to. That helped make the coaching duties much easier for McKeen this past fall.
“He has a maturity about the game and life that made him fit to be a captain,” McKeen said. “I wouldn’t have had the team that I had without Isaac’s leadership. The boys respected him and liked him, and that’s a huge factor. He’s a genuine article when you think of a soccer player.”
Leading the Tigers as a team captain is one of the things Perez will miss most when he sets out for the next chapter of his career on August 30.
“I’m going to miss all my teammates, being captain, being able to lead the team and having a fun time with my friends,” Perez said. “It’s relaxed in high school. Over there, everything’s going to be new to me, new people and new coaches.”
Although he’ll be 3,600 miles away from his hometown as he chases his dream of becoming a professional player, McKeen will always do his best to keep close tabs on Perez’s progress.
“My interest and my eye is going to be on him for a while,” McKeen said. “I think he’s going to make Lynn, and Lynn Tech, really proud. I’m excited for Isaac.”
