Andres Escalante de la Roca '16 Recruiting Profile

As I enter senior year, I set myself some couple of goals in order to improve as a person, as a soccer player and academically. However I have to start thinking about my future and what am I going to do with it, therefore I have to set some goals and have some aspirations. Some goals I have set myself is to play in a college were there is a great level of competition and where I am demanded the most. I've set this goal due to the fact that I want to become the best soccer player I can be. Most importantly I have to focus in the academical side of my life considering that soccer as a profession isn't going to last forever. Thus I have to focus on the academics and have to set goals in order for me to reach them in order to become a more successful person in life. 

What makes me different from other recruits is that I was not born in Mexico, I was born in Guatemala. We left Guatemala when is was about seven years old and lived in Panama for one year. After that we moved to Mexico. This makes me different due to the fact that I've "interacted" with other cultures that have shaped me into what I am today and also it has taught me to respect others and their different ways of thinking. This has helped me by learning different tools in order for me to cope with difficulties in life. Also, I have played soccer in many different countries all around the world. I've played in IMG academies, Barcelona, Los Angeles, Dallas, Guatemala, Ecuador and here in Mexico. This places have thought me various things that have helped me improve as a not only as an athlete but as a person. As an athlete this various places have taught me various characteristics and qualities such as leadership, discipline, competitiveness, self-confidence, courage, team work, adaptability (to play different sorts of styles and positions) but the two most important qualities I've learned were, commitment and determination. This two will not only help as an athlete but also as a student and person. If you want to get good grades and exceed above the rest you will have to be committed to your work and determined to do it well.