American Dreamer: a Chicago kid’s story, part one

(Editor’s note: this column originally appeared on pg. A16 in the Sunday October 21, 2007 Final Edition of the Chicago-Sun Times under the headline: 'If you have a dream, you follow it.' It is reprinted here as a prelude to tomorrow’s follow-up to this young man’s story.)

by Esther J. Cepeda

A Mexican kid uses his soccer skills to get into college on an athletic scholarship – an easy goal, right?

Think again.

"At Brother Rice Catholic school, my soccer coach used to always tell me, 'Get good grades, make sure to take your ACT, it'll be important,' and I'd say, 'Yeah, yeah.' I never paid attention," said Cesar Zambrano, a 23-year-old midfielder for the University of Illinois at Chicago Flames men's soccer team.

"I never did it. I had it in my mind I didn't want to go to college – nobody in my family went to college. Now I'm going to graduate in May."

Zambrano was like scores of Hispanic kids around the city who grow up with soccer in their veins but never turn that into a vehicle to college. Many, like him, think they'll join a pro soccer team "somehow," knowing that anything beyond high school is such an expensive, far-flung possibility that while families encourage "getting your education," the realities of getting into and paying for college rarely get real consideration.

"My friends started working – when you're young and start making $500 a week or more and live with your parents, life is nice and easy. That's why not a lot of Hispanics go to college," he said. "Some just didn't want to try, though the talent is out there."

Luckily his Brother Rice coaches, recognizing talent that made him an MVP and leading scorer in high school, pushed him to aim higher despite low grades. "I applied to all these colleges – I had to take the ACT three times, and I couldn't get in even though I played soccer well."

He ended up at Richard J. Daley College, where for a year, with the encouragement of UIC soccer coaches, he improved his grades.

"I was scared getting into it; I didn't think I was capable of doing it. Even while I was there I didn't know if this is what I wanted to do," he said.

Zambrano got on track to qualify for a partial athletic scholarship at UIC and a shot at a good career regardless of where soccer takes him.

Zambrano is now the first Hispanic co-captain of the team under head coach John Trask, making above-average grades toward his undergraduate degree in criminal justice, and spends time talking to middle-school Hispanic kids about doing well in school. "Not too many Hispanics end up with college degrees," he said. "I go talk about my whole experience and tell kids not to be in gangs or into drugs."

Hispanics don't get into college at the same rate as other ethnic groups. In 2002, the Pew Hispanic Center reported that of students enrolled in college, 1.3 million were Hispanic compared with 11 million white, 2 million black and 1 million Asian/Pacific Islander.

Once there, many can't hack it for financial and cultural reasons. U.S.-born Zambrano, who describes himself as Mexican American, took it all in stride.

"On the team, I'm the only Hispanic, so I'm 'the Mexican guy.' When we do marketing and pass out fliers, they turn to me and say, 'You go to Pilsen.' Some of them even think I was born in Mexico," he said. "It's much different now, and most of my friends are not Hispanic; they're English, Bosnian, African, black and white."

Trask says he's pushing for grad school. "There's so much more to him than being a soccer player. I told him he could be an alderman by 35. He's a Mexican-American kid paving the way for others."

Zambrano hopes that's the case. "I know I need to do good for the young guys that come see us. I set an example for them," he said.

"In the future, I think there are going to be more Mexicans, more Hispanics going to college. Hispanics never give up; they always want more. But the percentage is not high enough yet. People need to know if you have a dream, you follow it."

Esther J. Cepeda writes the "600 Words" & "Pregunta del Dia" columns, and is also the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Her views and reporting do not necessarily reflect those of ISAC. "600 words" is a registered trademark of EeJayCee, Inc., Copyright 2008. May be reprinted with permission, contact eejaycee@600words.com