GSU Men's Soccer 2023 Student-Athlete of the Year - Juan Manual Rodriguez

"My specialty is Business Administration Management. My dream is to continue studying, I want to do a specialization in public administration, and from the public sphere to help society, I believe that all people must contribute something to society in some way and little by little it will be better."

 

"I am from Colombia, from a small town called Tabio.  3 years ago I got a sports scholarship to play soccer at GSU. When they told me that there was a possibility of coming here to study, I never doubted it. GSU is a great university, surrounded by great people and very nice facilities."

 

"I played football with the GSU varsity team, worked as an assistant in the GSU athletic department, and was also involved in social service at a church near GSU, delivering food to people in need."

 

"My best memories at GSU are playing soccer. In my first season with the team, I remember a game against Lincoln College, it was a semifinal, we were tied with 4 seconds left in the game, and I scored the game-winner and advanced to the conference finals for the first time. in the history of the program. Another very nice memory was recently, at the athletes banquet, I received the All-Around Student-Athlete award, I was very happy to see the years of effort reflected in that award."

 

"GSU played a huge role in my dreams of being a business administration professional. I want to thank Coach Matt (head coach of the soccer team) and his assistant Sergio Reyes, they believed in me and gave me this wonderful opportunity to come to the United States to play soccer and have a higher education. I believe that GSU opened the doors for me to have a better future and grow as a person."

 

"One piece of advice that I would give to students is to enjoy university because I think it is the best time in life, and that beyond grades, they learn to face life in the best way and to be good people."