MORROW, Ga. -- The Clayton State University Department of Sports Information presents its last installment of the International Student-Athlete Spotlight.  Sports Information Intern Nina Koopman spotlights three exceptionally talented men's soccer athletes that come from different backgrounds.  
 
Robbie Christie
Robbie Christie is a defender on the men's soccer team and arrived this spring from England. After attending the University of Newcastle for his undergrad, he is now a graduate student at Clayton State University.
 
Christie grew up in Newcastle upon Tyne, which is in the in Northern England.  He has been playing soccer there since he was six years old. After finishing his undergraduate degree, he wanted to explore new opportunities for his master's and stumbled upon the possibility of studying abroad. Studying in America would expose him to a new culture and engage him in a new way of living, which he was exactly looking for.
 
The choice for Clayton State was quickly made. The location, the degree offered, and the surrounding area were all features that appealed to him. "I was also inclined to come here after speaking to Coach Pete, as he really sold the area and came across as very genuine and likable, which was a major reason to choose Clayton State," Robbie explains.
 
"Leaving home is never easy, particularly when you're an only child. That was a big challenge for family and I" he answers when I ask him which obstacles he faced coming to the United States. However, Robbie was slated to come in the fall term but broke his 5th metatarsal in his left foot. He needed an operation and was placed in a boot for fourteen weeks. During those weeks at home, he could not do anything and wondered if he could ever play again. "That was a major obstacle and a tough time for me," Robbie says.
 
 As a guy from England, Robbie is used to driving on the left side of the road, and thus driving on the right side of the road is a big culture shock for him. "I still get confused as to which way the cars should be coming or which side of the car, I should be getting into to be a passenger. I think I am getting better at understanding…." he says. In addition, the style, the size, and the kind of foods are distinct and unique to the US. "The bread is tiny," he mentions specifically.
 
Being a student-athlete requires that you manage your time effectively. Robbie's biggest challenge is managing his time between working, competing, and studying. He must also navigate a five-hour time difference.  In return, he gets to play soccer every day. That's his favorite part about being a student-athlete: "I just enjoy waking up and knowing I get to play football [soccer] in the morning." His best memory is playing his first game vs Limeño. "It was my first game in over nine months and a great memory, given what I had to go through just to get back on the field."
 
After graduating, Robbie is still determining what he will be doing. Time will tell where his master's degree will take him, whether that being somewhere in the U.S. or elsewhere. 
 
Christian Ransome
Christian Ransome is a defender from Chaguanas, Trinidad & Tobago. He has been a part of the men's soccer team since 2019 and graduated with bachelor's degree this spring. He is an established defender with more honors and awards than I have fingers.
 
Ransome has played soccer in Trinidad & Tobago since he was six years old. He was born and raised in Chaguanas with his older brother and parents. He heard about Clayton State from a fellow Trinidadian who attended Clayton State in 2005, and coach Pete reached out and was interested in him.
 
Christian joined The Lakers in 2019. It was not easy for him to leave Trinidad and his family to go to the U.S. to further his academics and soccer. Trinidad is very different from America, especially in terms of the weather and language. "I took a while to adapt to the American culture, weather, food, and the college soccer playing style during my freshman year. However, I waited for my opportunity and made the most of it through hard work and sacrifice," he says.
 
Christian has been a Laker for four years and decided to stay for another year. When I ask him the best part about being an international student-athlete, he answers: "I have made friends with people from different countries, cultures, and family backgrounds. I have been able to experience new places and gain a global perspective on society." His favorite memory is defeating Lander at home on Alumni Day. He looks forward to fall when he will play his last season as a Laker and will work to obtain his Master of Business Administration in Data Analytics.
 
Lewis Green
Lewis Green is a 6'4 defender from England. He has been doing a great job on and off the pitch, resulting in countless academic awards. 
 
Green is also a British lad who grew up in Sunderland on the northeast coast of England. "I grew up with my mom, who is my favorite person in the world and my two brothers, Scott and Connor," he says. He was three years old when he started playing soccer and it's still the sport, he loves the most.
 
When I ask Lewis how he ended up in America and at Clayton State University, he tells a spontaneous story. He knew it was an option to go here, but only after talking to his older brother Scott, he was convinced that this was a great opportunity. He called immediately and said he wanted to take the chance to come and play in the U.S. "It was the best decision I've ever made. Because of my decision to come, I rushed to find a school, but honestly, I think I hit the jackpot. I got a great offer from Clayton State which I couldn't turn down. The location on the outskirts of Atlanta is amazing, and we have a great group of lads with the same motivation to become better and succeed as a team," he describes.
 
Lewis experienced several cultural shocks, but the main one being is the language barrier. "I know, it sounds silly, considering I'm English. But it turns out my accent is very much on the stronger side and when I first got here, speaking in my Mackem accent, people looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language! So, I have had to adapt how I speak in public so people can comprehend what I'm saying," he explains.
 
The best part about being a student-athlete is the chance to play soccer every day, according to Lewis. "Especially during the competitive season, there is nothing better than being out on the field working towards the common goal between you and everyone else in your program."
 
Lewis has learned more than he could have ever imagined since arriving in America. If he had a chance narrow it down to one thing, it would be that networking is the most important thing, both personally and professionally. "I have met some unbelievable people here, and I have an amazing group of friends from all over the world that I would never have had if I didn't come to the U.S. to play."
 
When I ask him what his favorite memory is, he answers: "I genuinely can't narrow down my favorite memory in the U.S., there have really been that many. Personally, last summer, when I played for Georgia Revolution FC, I had the best time of my life with the best group of people. Soccer-wise, I would have to say either playing for Georgia Revolution, away at Appalachian FC, in front of over 2000 fans or playing in front of my mom, here at Clayton State last fall, where we beat our rival: Young Harris. That felt very good."
 
This summer, the British defender returns to "The Revs" for his second consecutive year. The team has managed to bring back almost all of the players from last year, so he is excited about what this summer brings. After the summer, Lewis will continue to play college soccer for the Lakers. I asked him about his plans after graduation, and he tells me he wants to get into soccer coaching. He will be working to obtain a master's degree, either in sports management or sports science, which will be beneficial alongside his coaching badges that he is currently progressing through.
 
I ask all three men soccer players what advice they would give incoming players. They have some great advice:
 
Robbie: "Grasp all opportunities you can and engage with as much as possible. Further, make sure to enjoy every minute that you play, study and work while you are here. These are all great things that should not be taken for granted."
 
Christian: "It won't be easy but make the most out of every opportunity."
 
Lewis: "Buy into the program's identity and culture because it is a great one that we have formed over the past few years. Put in the hard work and listen to the older lads who have experienced what you are going through, as they will do everything, they can to help you. But ultimately, enjoy yourself; college is as good as you make it, so experience new things, meet new people, and visit new places."
 
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