My name is Ioannis Koupepides. I am 20 years old and I am from Cyprus, a small island in the Eastern Mediterranean. I chose to combine academics and soccer by moving to the United States, where I am currently a sophomore pursuing a degree in Exercise Science and competing as a goalkeeper for the SIUE men’s soccer team. Before transferring to SIUE, I studied and played soccer at Texas A&M International University in Laredo, Texas. My main goal in the future is to become a professional soccer player. Still, beyond that, I aspire to help other soccer players find opportunities in the U.S. through scholarships that allow them to combine education and athletics. In the future, I also plan to open my own gym, where I will work as both the CEO and a fitness instructor. Living alone abroad has helped me build strong character, independence, adaptability, and overall maturity, shaping me both as an athlete and as a person.
