You’re standing on the corner of the soccer field. You’re about to shoot the goal that could change the outcome of the game. You feel the pressure of your teammates pouring on you like lava. You feel as if the weight of the world is on your shoulder. The wind blows on your hair as you prepare to shoot the ball into the goal. It’s a 50/50 chance of making it and if you make it your team will win, so you give it your best. You pour all your confidence and fear into your foot as you shoot the ball. The ball whirls through the wind, curves, and just when you thought it was going to hit the pole it goes inside the goal. Everyone cheers and runs towards you as you smile and laugh. You’ve won the game for your team. Everyone cheers your name “IVAN IVAN IVAN”. Ivan Ramos ‘20 has a biggest passion and love for soccer ever since he was a little boy in LA.

“My uncle taught me how to play soccer and ever since I was 4 years old I’ve been practicing and playing soccer,” Ramos said. Ramos said soccer is his favorite sport and hobby.“Soccer is a great way to have fun and get the benefits your body needs” Ramos said.

Ramos’s passion grew even more after seeing soccer players such as Javier Hernandez  play on TV. Everyone in Ramos’s family plays or played soccer, from his mom to his 60 year old grandpa. “Just shooting a ball relieves me of a bit of stress but playing the game literally gets rid of stress,” Ramos added with a laugh. Ramos’s good friend, Jawon Perry ’20 said, “Ivan is inspired by big soccer players and pushes himself to be like them.”

Perry also added, “His love and passion for soccer is amazing and it’s like his drive.” Although Perry does not play soccer, Ramos and Perry share a lot of other things in common like their love for video games and cooking.

Ramos’s uncle played a large role in his soccer life by teaching him the virtue of respecting team mates and opponents. Ramos says, “

Besides playing soccer, Ramos has other interests and hobbies. He absolutely loves to cook. “The first time I was interested in cooking was when my dad made a rice and beans with a tortilla for me and I was so mesmerized,” Ramos said.

To Ramos, food isn’t just something he enjoys to eat like some of us, he also views it as a type of art. He feels like food can be “drawn” and “designed” in any way or shape the artist or the chef wants.“The best part is you get to gobble it down and enjoy it like a person admiring a piece of art” ,Ramos said.

Ramos’s dad makes amazing food for Ramos’s entire family and he inspires Ramos to try his best in cooking and to never give up no matter the product or the taste.

Alongside cooking and playing soccer, Ramos absolutely loves to play video games like Pokemon. “Pokemon is a good card game that will help improve math skills so just try it trust me, ” Ramos said with a laugh.

“I pour whatever emotions into the soccer ball or I cook something depending on my mood and emotions,” Ramos said.

Ramos says that lots of people assume he’s a boring person but really he says, “They just never get to meet me. Don’t judge someone by their actions and how they act,” Ramos said.

Ramos continues to push himself to get better at the things he loves. Whenever he stumbles on an obstacle, he always pushes through no matter how big or bad the obstacle is. One piece of advice Ramos says to everyone is, “Try your best to achieve what you want.”

Go to check out Ivan’s YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/user/Ivram20