Brianna Rodriguez  |  Contributing Writer

As a passionate boxing fan, I have seen boxers leave their homes with nothing in order to seek a better future for themselves and their families. Excelling in the sport allows the boxers to be financially stable as well. Manny Pacquiao is one of the well-known names in boxing and a primary example of an athlete who reached his goal only after taking a chance and leaving home. Pacquiao came to the United States from the Philippines where he met his trainer, Freddy Roach. Since then, Pacquiao has become one of the top names worldwide in the sport.

Sports performance consultant Robert Andrews has worked with many athletes to know that transitions are not easy.

“I think more and more sports crowds are lacking in empathy. I think people need to develop a deeper level of empathy and understanding,” said Andrews. “Just start thinking about what it must be like for an athlete to leave everything they’ve known for 18 years behind and that they are in transition. They are working their way through things.”

Andrews stated that all athletes deal with new transitions differently based on the cultural structure that they have developed throughout their life.

Profession reached in the ring

Recently turned professional, 19-year-old Timothy Lee is a boxer who grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada and moved to the Los Angeles area to further his boxing career. At 152 pounds, the super welterweight fighter is undefeated so far in his professional career with a record of two wins–one by knockout–and no losses. His main reason for moving was to be closer to his team.

“Once you get a good team they carry you on. If you don’t have a good, solid team then you’re not going to get anywhere,” said Lee.

Prior to turning professional, a video shared of Lee in a sparring session went viral on Instagram when Lee ended the fight in seconds with a knockout.

Cougar Athletes

Not many have considered that although athletes go through tough times training hard to stay on top, most of them leave their homes to pursue their dreams and goals.

Alba Espinar is a junior APU water polo player from Barcelona, Spain who had a difficult time adjusting to California. She expressed that it took her a full semester to get used to the difficult transition.

“It was pretty hard at first last year last fall because I didn’t have any friends and I was so homesick,” Espinar said.

Junior football player Ethan Zeidler from Minnesota and junior track and field athlete Allie Updike from Virginia had struggles adjusting as well, but both athletes stated that the community at Azusa Pacific impacted them in a positive way, along with the warm weather.

“At first I thought it was going to take me long. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to make the adjustment, but playing football and being part of such a tight-knit school and community made a huge difference,” said Zeidler.

Updike explained that she is always open minded when it comes to traveling the world and seeing what doors God opens up for her. “while she initially had second thoughts arriving in california, Updike found affirmation in the community around her” or something.

“When you get here, there’s that month period where you are like, ‘did I make the right decision? This is going to be hard.’ You go through that, but it’s the people you surround yourself with that really help,” said Updike.

Football Coach Victor Santa Cruz and his coaching staff use an assessment tool called strength deployment inventory to pick up on how their athletes are performing and to allow themselves to notice when athletes are having a difficult time adjusting.

“This assessment tool gives us that base line so when we do go into camp we can pick up, ‘okay this guy is not acting like what his results came with,’ and we start to put a care unit on him,” said Santa Cruz.

Gym is Home

Athletes spend a large amount of their time preparing in the gym, but what spectators do not acknowledge is that the gym represents more than just a training space.

“At the end of the day, boxing is how I make a living, so I have to be comfortable at the gym. If I am at any other gym I have to make all kinds of adjustments and I probably wouldn’t be happy,” said Lee.

Zeidler said that his gym also serves as a second home because he always spends a large amount of time in there in order to perform well on the field.

Is it all worth it?

Most of the time nothing is promised for athletes who are looking to play sports on a professional level. There is great talent worldwide, but it is up to the individuals to make certain decisions and changes, temporary or permanent, that can benefit them in the long run.

Although all of the athletes who shared their thoughts participate in different sports, they all believe the journey of taking chances is worth the sacrifices.