Julian Lopez '24 Recruiting Profile

Hello coaches, my name is Julian Lopez. I am a midfielder who is part of the 2024 graduating class and I am currently playing for Smithtown Christian School. I've been playing soccer since I was 3 years old and I played D-1 in Brentwood Soccer League until the moment when I transferred to a private school 2 years ago in 2020. I grew up playing soccer, and my family paid for me to start playing so young that I developed a love for the sport instantly. It's like a home away from home. When I'm out of the house and I'm at the field with my cleats on, dribbling my ball or working on a drill, I feel like I am right where I belong.

Ever since I was younger I was different from other players and people. I would always work hard even if it was the smallest thing like passing the ball or shooting the ball. Even when I was put in goalkeeper when I was younger, I would try my absolute hardest to not let anything past me. I have the determination and the dedication to play and I always have. I have heart, I want to play this game, I want to be great, I want to get better, and I want to play at the next level. Another thing that differentiates me from other players is that other players usually try to focus on their strengths, and their area of expertise, but I focus on my weaknesses. Even though it may not be as fun but to play at the next level, you have to focus on things that you are uncomfortable with. My trainer once told me, “If you want something you never had, you have to do things that are uncomfortable and that don't come easy to you.” I not only work hard on the field, I also work hard in the classroom. I am a 4.0 student and I am top of my class, I understand that sports aren't everything. My education is just as important, if not more important than Soccer. Back in April of 2022, I traveled to Kijabe, Kenya for a mission’s trip. Me and my team stayed there for 10 days and we served in many different ways. We went to a church and we performed for a whole service and we were of service at Mama Beth’s Children's Program. We helped paint, deliver food, give the kids lunch and we learned so many life lessons that I still carry with me today and I always will.

I have many collegiate goals and aspirations, for example one of my goals is to make a College Soccer team. Another goal is to be an A+ student and make my family proud and show my little cousins what hard work and dedication can do. I want to get my degree and go for my masters, but these are just my simple goals. I have 2 prayers that I hope will carry on all throughout my whole life. My prayers are to remain steadfast in my faith and let God work in me and work through me to others. I pray that he uses me to help others and bring them closer to him. I also pray to stay patient with God and to let him guide my life and help me make the right decisions (Careerwise, athletics, etc) and to not let me try to control the situation and take my life from him and control my life. Thank you for reading this and I hope you consider me.