RSOL Alumni Arturo Verdin on Academic scholarship to University of Southern California

My name is Arturo Verdin. I have been a part of the Richmond Sol program since 2008. Playing soccer at Richmond Sol was a new chapter in my life. Playing alongside my peers, whom I later looked towards as family, instilled a sense of community and responsibility that I had failed to find anywhere else. The past nine years have been unforgettable. I have traveled all over California with my friends and won many games--as well as lost many games. Despite this, at the end of the day we would all get together, laugh, and support each other. One experience in particular I will never forget is when we traveled to Lake Tahoe for a tournament. We swept through every team in the tournament and gained a sense of accomplishment like no other. As a team we were able to achieve something and the festivities that night were unforgettable. Although I do enjoy playing soccer, I find that the reason I am drawn to Richmond Sol is for the community. The relationships I have established in the nine years I have been there are some that I will forever cherish. This fall I will be attending the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. I may be far from my family at Richmond Sol but I know that we will always be a phone call away. Richmond Sol is not just a program for playing soccer. The memories I created and the relationships I have formed will last a lifetime. The values it instilled in me will guide me in every aspect of my future.

#RichmondSol #USC