Beyond Surf Cup: Josiah Looks Ahead

For Josiah, this summer was about more than soccer.

After completing his first year at South Kent School in South Kent, Connecticut, where he spent his 10th-grade year balancing academics and a competitive soccer environment, Josiah traveled to San Diego to participate in the Yours in Soccer Foundation’s Summer Immersion Program and compete in the San Diego Surf Cup.

The experience gave him another opportunity to challenge himself on the field. But as he prepares to enter 11th grade, it also gave him a chance to start thinking more intentionally about his future beyond soccer. 

Finding His Footing

Three years ago, when Josiah first came to the United States and began 8th grade at Indian Mountain School (IMS), he was adjusting to a new country and school environment. He described himself as shy, often hesitant to ask questions or seek help.

After graduating from IMS, Josiah transitioned to South Kent School, where he found a welcoming, close-knit community that helped him come out of his shell even more. Over the past year, he has become more comfortable opening up to others and stepping outside his comfort zone. On the field, he was motivated and challenged by older and more experienced players, helping him grow as a student-athlete. 

That growth followed him to San Diego.

A New Team, A New Community

At the YSF Summer Immersion Program, Josiah spent a week connecting with student-athletes from across the country, preparing for college, and competing on one of youth soccer’s biggest stages at the San Diego Surf Cup.

“We came together as one family,” he says. That connection carried onto the Surf Cup field, where Josiah’s team advanced to the semifinals. His favorite moment came after scoring, when the team would gather together to perform a special dance they had learned together. 

For Josiah, moments like that captured what made the experience special: competing at a high level while building relationships with people he had only just met.

But the program was about more than soccer. Each day included sessions focused on college and life beyond the field, giving Josiah a chance to seriously think about what comes after high school.

Thinking Beyond Soccer

One of the biggest takeaways for Josiah was the importance of finding the right college fit.

The program encouraged students to consider the kind of environment where they would thrive, from campus size and community to academics and athletics. Those conversations helped Josiah begin defining what he wants in his own college experience.

Now, as he prepares for his junior year, Josiah is not only more confident in navigating life as a student-athlete in the U.S., but also more willing to ask for help and embrace new opportunities.

He is beginning to imagine what comes next — and to understand that his future can be bigger than the game he loves.

For now, he’ll keep playing, keep learning, and keep exploring what’s possible.

A special thank you to our partners at the Yours in Soccer Foundation for welcoming Josiah into the Summer Immersion Program and giving student-athletes the space to compete, connect, and think about their futures.

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