What Happens When You Chase Your Childhood Dreams

By JULIANA BERMUDEZ

Remember that time when you dreamed of being an astronaut, a singer or a teacher; when the universe allowed you to dream. Bragging to your parents saying how one day you would be on TV doing what you did best. Then life got in the way and we had to put our dreams to the side to study a career that would actually benefit us in the long run. At Least that is what society taught us to do, to be “realistic.” Therefore, we stopped dreaming and settled for what we felt would be safe. But when did it become unsafe to dream? What happened to those words of encouragement we used to hear growing up, such as,  “you can do anything you set your mind to?” Once in awhile, someone comes along and proves everyone wrong and shows them dreams do come true. Meanwhile, society frowns upon those who do follow their dreams, but those who do dream are called “crazy” and no one actually encourages one another to pursue their dreams. Sometimes we are too scared to even take the leap of faith and attempt to pursue our passions.

“Growing up my mother never discouraged me from dreaming, she actually always supported me in all of my decisions. Even when I decided I was not going to attend college and I would dedicate myself to playing soccer that was a decision my mother and I decided, she never questioned it either. She continues to encourage my dream and pushes me every single day to continue this dream which will slowly become a career.” says Christopher Bermudez

Christopher Bermudez, of Union City, NJ was only 4 years old when he started his soccer career His grandmother, Barbara Valencia,  would take him to a nearby park, Saint Mary’s Park, in West New York, NJ, where she lived.  Whenever they went to the park, they would bring a soccer ball along that belonged to his father.  During those long afternoons at the park, Bermudez slowly became infatuated with the game of soccer and because of that his grandmother quickly signed him up for the local soccer team.

 

Early Career

 

Bermudez’s  soccer career quickly developed, from doing some footwork at the park just for fun, to having practices every other day with the West New York Tigers. Bermudez started off playing for the West New York Tigers stayed there until the age of 8, and afterwards he moved onto teams that would grow his career,including the Fairview Saf, Thistle Fc, Hudson United Futbol Club, NJ Cedar Stars Academy U16, New York Red Bulls U16/18, Pachuca.  

Unfortunately when he got the opportunity to move onto a better team, his grandmother passed away. Although his grandmother passed away, rather than letting it take a negative toll on him he turned it into a positive. Such as, practicing more and more each day because his grandmother’s dream was for him to one day become a professional soccer player.

During Bermudez’s time playing for the NYRB, which he started at the age of 15, he was able to learn the most. Due to it being a challenging team, where he was pressured to be the best just for the public eye. Once he was welcomed to the team, his normal position as forward was switched to mid-field. Which was the most challenging part for him, when his positioned was switched he felt lost in the game, his mother as his most honest fan told him he looked “lost” on the field. Trying his best to find himself in that position he learned to be it but it was not meant for him. He reached out to the coach and explained he knew he could live up to better expectations as a forward. The coach gave him a chance to show what he had, and once he saw, Bermudez’s position was switched to left and sometimes right striker.

The New York Red Bulls, is a well known team, therefore anytime a national soccer team has a soccer game in New Jersey they use the Red Bull’s field to practice. On October of 2014, Colombia’s national team had a small match vs Canada. Since the team was using the field they allowed a few Red Bull’s players to practice with them, the coach would pick 5 top players who deserved it. “When my coach told me I was 1 of 5 on my team being picked to practice with them, I remember being excited and immediately calling my mother to thank her because she has helped me through all of this. Afterwards, she was yelling on the phone because she was excited. This meant the world to her and my family because we are of Colombian descent. Being able to practice with the Colombian national team only motivated me even more but also taught me to always stay humble because that’s how every single player was.” Says Bermudez.

For Bermudez he never stopped dreaming, society’s definition of being realistic did not constrict Chris’ dream of making his passion his career. He is currently playing for Pachuca, a Mexican club team, which he is in a professional environment 24/7. Where the directors are always looking at who can be the next big thing and has the qualities to be a first team player. Bermudez says, “I am considered a professional athlete because I get payed however I’m not a first team player yet.”

Soccer is without a doubt a mainstream sport globally. Although it isn’t the most popular sport in the United States, it has gained popularity because of the significant amount of Latin American fans that live in the U.S and support and popularize the sport. In other countries it is the primary sport, which people live vicariously through it. The sport is still globally recognized through the olympics and presented through sports channels.

Bermudez compares himself to Armanda Moreno, who also played for Red Bulls Academy, and did not attend college. He pursued soccer instead and left to Mexico to play for Xolos Tijuana. Although he is older he feels he can relate to this player the most.

Bermudez sacrificed his social life to become a disciplined athlete. He was not the average high school student attending certain parties or hanging out with his friends after school. He knew that maybe just that one party could get him into trouble and would be a distraction. He was not able to play for his high school because he had exclusive contract with his club’s team, Red Bulls. “I sacrificed many things as a high school student, but my mother always reminded me I had one goal to achieve and I could not afford to be distracted,” Bermudez says.

Practice Makes Professional

Chris’ day now as a Pachuca player, consist of training two times a day, and he has worked his way up to training that much in one day. His first practice is at 10 a.m til 12 p.m, and that practice consist of running to get warmed up for 15 minutes, but also to get faster speed and agility. Afterwards, the team gets into some ball work, then passing drills, and towards the end they play a normal friendly game. His second workout consist of more gym workouts, such as lifting and each day the team focuses on different body parts. Each player’s information is recorded and due to their body weight and any fat percentage they may have, what each player should be eating is shown once they enter the dining hall.

Before his time in Pachuca, Bermudez practiced even more because his mother is constantly reminding him how someone is always watching. “It is not easy being his momager, there is times where I want to be selfish and keep him with me all the time, but I know I have to support my son wherever he goes. I am just happy he has allowed me to play such an important role throughout this dream that is slowly coming to life.” says Dina Garcia, mother of Christopher Bermudez. Garcia has been Bermudez’s backbone throughout his so far soccer career. From having to drive two hours four times a week on the way there and back just to take him to practice, during his time playing for NJ Cedar Stars Academy, to travelling all the way to Spain with Bermudez because he had a tournament there while playing for the Red Bulls.

Bermudez’s time at Red Bulls ended once he participated in a showcase tournament, Sueno Alianza, sponsored by Powerade, which occurs in July every year where players from all over nearby states can come compete. Each player is narrowed down, and top 3 from each age groups are picked to compete in Florida and the winners are given the opportunity to try out for a national team. Bermudez participated in Sueno Alianza two years,

During the 2016 competition, Bermudez was 2nd place, and received 12 invitations from Leon, Pachuca, Pumas, Monterrey, Necaxa, Morelia, America, Toluca (MX) OKC Energy, Portland Timbers 2, Swope Park Rangers (USL) FC Dallas (MLS). In that moment, Bermudez realized he had the capability to become a professional soccer player. When thinking about these invitations he knew soccer would now become his life, as a high school senior he also had to think about college. Would he attend, or would he focus on chasing his dream? It was a decision he also made with him with his mother, she supported his decision of pursuing his soccer dream, but that would now become his life and he had no choice but to make it pro. “I have known Chris for a while now and he is one special kid, when he steps on the field it is a different vibe, the kid comes in focused and knows what he wants.” says Wayne Galloway one of Bermudez’s coaches. Christopher Bermudez is now working his way up in Pachuca, once he turns 18 in June he will have the chance become a first team player, he continues to practice more and more in order to be recruited into a team where he will have more opportunities.

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