Dreamers await Sueño final day
"There is a lot of pressure," said Abraham Garcia of Santa Barbara, California. "Everyone wants to win it so we're all playing our best, especially at the scrimmages."
Wednesday nights consist of scrimmages, and this week's scrimmage is of the utmost importance to the Final Five as it is their last practice before the announcement of the winner this weekend.
"The guys are good and the competition is hard," said the 17 year old. "I'm just hoping that I do better and that they pick me."
Garcia admits that while the thought of "being picked" as the winner has crossed his mind, he has not planned out what he would do if he did in fact win. "Yeah, you think 'what if', but never more than that, I don't want to jinx myself," he added.
While the thought of winning is something that he doesn't want to be consumed by, Garcia has received a lot more attention at home from friends and family.
"Everyone wants to know everything, about the team, the players, etc," said the savvy midfielder. "One of my friends even asked me for my autograph as a joke. Its funny, but I try not to let it get to my head because it will make me nervous."
Despite fighting off nerves, and working hard at practices, Garcia has also taken some time to get to know his fellow finalists, particularly his second cousin, Jorge Flores, who he actually discovered during the Round of 60. "We're getting along really well, we're getting to know each other and our families, it's been great," he said.
As Garcia learns more about his extended family he has also come to appreciate his immediate family even more. "It's hard doing the drive to practice," said Garcia. "I have to leave class early and my dad has to get permission to leave work early also since the drive and the traffic is pretty bad."
Garcia and his dad drive anywhere from two to four hours south (depending on traffic) from their home in Santa Barbara to make it to practices in Bell Gardens.
Regardless of how long it takes to get to practices, this is only a small sacrifice for the pursuit of a dream. In the case of Garcia, his words of advice for anyone who has a dream are simple.
"I was always told I was too skinny," said Garcia. "But when you are following your dreams it doesn't matter how big or small you are, if you work for it you can make it happen."
Keeping this focus in mind, Garcia plans on continuing to condition and train in the following days in case he does make it but also in case he doesn't.
"If I make it I need to stay in shape, and if I don't make it I need to continue to work to get to that next level," he concluded.
