Lucas Fernandes '24 Recruiting Profile

My life is a roller coaster, with many peaks and valleys that shaped me to be a better person, a better son, and a better brother. Since my mother's womb, I used to battle with my identical twin brother for food and space. A little-known fact is that when twins are about to be born and leave their mother's womb, there is a probability that one twin survives after leaving the mother's womb, while the other may not due to the competition for space and food inside it, and it was not different for me. I was born underweight but a perfect and robust fighter premature baby. Furthermore, I wouldn't trade my life for having a twin brother. Besides the fun that we have, there are many benefits and remarkable memories, but the most significant gain is the companionship and loyalty that we share. My brother and I are very close, and we are also into sports, especially soccer.

Since we were small kids, we have competed in soccer championships abroad. Our parents always gave us a lot of support. One specific participation that meant a lot to us was that we both were selected to represent the United States in an international futsal competition, a fast-paced soccer game popular in Brazil against European countries last year (2022) during Thanksgiving week. It was a fantastic gain for both of us that we had the opportunity and experience to share with all the foreign athletes our knowledge about playing soccer, develop leadership skills and teamwork, and also share the feeling of responsibility for results. It was a unique cultural exchange. Another fantastic achievement we conquered was playing soccer for our high school, something we had always dreamed about. Both events were the happiest and proudest moments for my brother and me. I'm delighted to have a brother like him who pushes me to be a better person every day and the same way around, too. So, as we approach the next chapter of our lives, applying to colleges, I guess this might be the last year we will be at the same school together, which I am feeling slightly nostalgic about, but we are sure ready and looking forward to what will come next. Therefore, through our stories, I've gained a lot of valuable skills like the appreciation of partnership, teamwork, adaptability, cooperation, and trust. These skills drive my desire to pursue a business career in sports, entrepreneurship, and marketing, all inspired by my deep passion for soccer.