When conversing with someone from Spain, you'd think of Barcelona or Madrid, but in this case, it is different. Gonzalo La Chica is a junior on the male soccer team at Clayton State University, coming from Malaga, Spain, a municipality described as "Florida in Spain" due to its similar weather and scenery. La Chica grew up playing soccer as the youngest in his family, describing the experience as "the best," and once he reached the age of eighteen, he began to consider his options for the future. "I wasn't sure what to do because I had always loved soccer, but not enough to become a professional. In Spain, we don't have the option of playing while completing a degree, so I thought America was the best way to go," he explains, but his path did not begin with a Laker induction; originally, Gonzalo began at the University of Northwestern Ohio and fulfilled his freshmen and sophomore years there.
 
When asked why he transferred to Clayton State, he described his previous university as "basically in the middle of nowhere," further explaining that "as you get older and start thinking about your professional future, I realized I need to go to a bigger city. I considered going to California or Chicago, you know, places where you can find a lot of opportunities. Clayton State had a pretty good location since it's only 20 or 30 minutes from downtown Atlanta, so I thought it was the best option." Georgia and Ohio mark a stark difference when hailing from Spain, but La Chica has not received great culture shock due to his busy schedule as a student and volunteer coach for a children's soccer team. "I've been pretty busy, so I haven't had the chance to go to Atlanta, but everything has been alright, plus I think the campus is beautiful." While agreeing on the campus' eye-catching landscape, it was time to ask about the infamous goose-chasing that happens to only the best of Clayton State's students. "Have you been chased by a goose yet?" Gonzalo laughs, "Yeah, my first week, a goose chased me. This was during pre-season in late July; before classes began, I thought it was a good way to start the year."
 
Gonzalo is studying business and marketing with a double concentration and is due to graduate in 2025. He states that having the chance to play while studying has fueled his passion for the sport. "I've loved soccer all my life, and I feel like it's grown since studying here. I felt like it was my path as a child, but now I use it as a tool to relieve stress while it being a job. It's a double win." However, his dedication to the sport is not in his vision for the future. After college, La Chica notes that he will probably leave soccer to work professionally in an OPT (optional practical training) or internship and save the sport for fun. "My future is in corporate or business," he states.
 
Moving away from college isn't easy for many, and moving an ocean away from home is even more difficult; however, La Chica has been able to keep his connections from home despite the distance thanks to tech and holiday visits. When asked if he had any advice or words of wisdom for future international student-athletes, La Chica wants to advise "Don't take it so seriously that you can't enjoy it. You have to enjoy the moment and be grateful and proud of yourself. It's only a couple of years, so you have to enjoy it."