Cesar Figueroa, a PSA student, has been playing soccer for Solano United since he was 7. He said that he is planning to keep playing for the team throughout high school.

Students who play sports off-campus may lack recognition as athletes, as they have the additional challenge of balancing school schedules with sports schedules, but Figueroa doesn’t worry about that perspective. Even though he could play soccer for Armijo, he chooses to keep playing for Solano. He explained that the schedules are more flexible and that his mother is really busy and wouldn’t have the time to drive him to the tryouts, practices and games with Armijo this year. Next year, though, he intends to try-out for Armijo’s boys’ soccer team, and, when Armijo’s season is over, he will return to his team in Solano.

Figueroa plays for recreational purposes, for health purposes, and for a possible future. “I could see myself playing pro in the future,” he said. “I take it seriously.” For the time being Figueroa believes that playing only for Solano United is the better choice because there are better trainers, people who specialize in training soccer to kids depending on their individual level.

Everything about soccer is enjoyable, according to Figueroa. “The excitement, the fun, the sportsmanship, the challenging it is,” he said. Figueroa also practiced boxing for a few years, but he continued to play soccer while he was involved in that sport.