Meet MVCC's Student of the Month (April 2021)

Hello, my name is Carlos Ulises Acosta Viquez Y Montiel and I’m 20 years old. I'm an international student from Mexico, and I play as a goalkeeper in the soccer team of MVCC. This is my second semester in MV and my major is Business Administration.

I’m a member of the Honors Program, PTK, and the Leadership Academy.

 I grew up in Iguala de la Independencia. It is a little town in Guerrero state. I lived there all my childhood until I moved to Mexico City when I was thirteen years old, and I lived there until I came to MVCC.

All my life, I have been playing sports, but soccer means a lot to me, Since I was a child, my father instilled in me the discipline and responsibility that I should dedicate to it. That helped me get away from vices and brought me closer to a healthy life.

Many times, it was difficult, there were friend's parties, important family meetings, but when I had training or soccer game, I couldn't miss it, so I grew up surrounded by discipline and responsibility, and I am very happy that my father has instilled it in me since I was a child.

At 13 years old, I had the opportunity to get into Club America, the best professional soccer team in Mexico, and play in the academy. It was a dream for me. It was something that I was dreaming since I was just a child. With work ethic and discipline, I played there four years, practically all my soccer formation; then I broke a bone in my wrist, and everything complicated it. The opportunities were fewer, and due to circumstances beyond my control I had to leave the team. I was about a year without being able to play. The following years I played in a professional third division team called Chilangos FC; it was the team where I could establish myself as the footballer that I am today.

One day, a sports representation company told me that I was a candidate to study in the United States and get a sports scholarship. I felt very excited from the first moment, and after several months of talking with my parents, we decided to start the process. I had several offers from universities around the United States. After thinking for a couple of months, I decided to come to MVCC, the head coach Dominic DiMaggio from the first moment showed a deep interest in me, and it was what helped me decide to go to MV. Now I’m living in the dorms of MV and everything is easy for us, we have a gym, cafeteria, library and everything a student needs; the soccer coach is an incredible person, all the time he is asking us about our grades and he wants us to be successful in every way. As international student sometimes is not easy staying far from home but my international advisor, Emily Gifford, is an amazing person. She is always aware of any situation in my student life, and she is really helpful all the time. I’m really happy to be part of this amazing institution: It is the best decision I could have made.

I don't know how many people will read this, but I would like to tell you that dreams come true; no matter how big they are, you can fulfill them. MV is part of my dream, of that 13-year-old boy who watched movies at the cinema and dreamed of living a university life in the US. With intelligence and an incredible work ethic, you will achieve everything you set out to do. I am grateful to my parents and God for being able to live the "American dream".