ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: Javier Perez

Legacy Charter senior and boys varsity soccer team captain Javier Perez has led the Eagles as the team captain during his senior year and is looking forward to finishing the season on a high note. Perez has scored five goals as a center-defensive mid this season. 

Tell us about your team.
I don’t know what it was, but ever since the new year, our team really just clicked on a different level. 

How have you contributed to your team? 
I think my main contribution is from a leadership aspect. There’s two seniors on the team, including myself, but I play the majority of the time, so I’m always trying to lead our team. Where that comes from is mainly just through the communication aspect, as well as keeping our whole team’s heads in the game. 

Tell us about your years as a soccer player.
I started off at the YMCA when I was 5 years old. When I was around 9 or 10 years old, my parents tried to get me into other sports, but soccer just always felt right to me. 

What do you love most about soccer as a sport?
I’ve really taken pride in the whole leadership aspect. Growing up, I was never a captain, but the past few years, I have been for both club and high school. I guess taking a pride of being able to lead a team in whole has really helped me wanting to continue playing. 

What do you believe soccer has taught you not only on the field but also outside of it?
Outside of the field, I guess just how to work with others from multiple angles. I’ve had players on my team — both club and high school — (who don’t take communication the same way as others do), so I guess catering to certain people.

Do you have a favorite drill to do at practice?
Shooting drills, because I feel like that’s the worst part of my game, personally. So, whenever I am doing a shooting drill, I feel like that’s when I get to work most on myself. 

What’s your favorite hobby?
Bowling and anything Lego related. … I just like the process of building (the Legos). Once I’m done building them, I don’t touch them anymore. 

What do you like to do on the weekends?
That’s typically when I get my college work done. But, when I do have free time, I like to spend the weekend with my friends. 

What’s your favorite movie?
“Interstellar” or “Inception.” Both are deep movies and really make you think. 

Who is your favorite superhero? 
Doctor Strange — I guess just his whole magic aspect. He’s unique from the rest. 

If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?
Probably teleportation, just because you could get rid of that whole time management. 

What are three places you’d like to visit? Why?
Costa Rica. I’ve already been there before, but every time I go there is a 10-out-of-10 travel experience. Mexico, I went there when I was younger, but I don’t really remember it. It was a cruise vacation and I was too young to remember anything. Probably where my dad grew up in Texas, because he’s told me a lot of stories.

Which one would you choose: Instagram, BeReal or TikTok?
Instagram. BeReal is too new, and TikTok probably does more bad than good … because of how much I hear people sitting in front of it for hours.

What color would you say represents your personality?
I wear a whole lot of white, but I would not say that represents me. I’ve always been attracted to the color blue. But I guess I kind of enjoy being a more relaxed person. 

Where do you want to go to college?
University of Central Florida — it’s where I’m set up right now. I’ve applied, and I’ve been admitted. But it wasn’t always that way, I started off wanting to go to the University of South Florida, but after contemplating the pros and cons as far as travel expenses, (I decided) to go to UCF.

What would you like to study?
I would like to get a degree in biology to then get into (physician assistant) school. 

If you could be an animal for a day, which one would you be?
A panda. I have thought about this before. All the videos you see, they look so friendly with the other pandas, and they look like they have no responsibilities.