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SJM_BrendenAaronson_People_7_19_Reg1_Dept 6 / 28 / 19 9 : 50 AM Page 2 to watch was the EPL [ English Pre - mier League ] and Serie A , all the dif - ferent leagues [ around the world ] . So it was crazy to see it here . Working toward a pro career … I’ve always wanted to be a profes - sional soccer player . That’s been my dream since I was 5 years old . I’ve worked super hard to get to where I am ; it’s always been a goal for me and I saw it the entire way . I think I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted to do . When I got my chance with Bethlehem Steel I started thinking , ‘ Wow , I have a chance at this . ’ Becoming a soccer phenom in South Jersey … I played at the Medford Soccer Club for three years , and then we went to Real New Jersey , which is my dad’s club now . From Real New Jersey I went to the Union Academy . For me to become a pro , that was the best situation . The U.S . Development Academy was just starting to come around and that was the best chance to become a pro and get a home - grown contract or something like that . I always wanted to go to the Philadelphia Union Academy , but it was just hard leaving my friends . Representing his hometown … I think there’s one other Medford guy to [ play in the MLS ] ; his name was Stephen King . I try to be a role model for kids from that club . I was just there about three or four weeks ago . Nike gave us some balls and we donated them to the club . Transferring from Shawnee … I went to Shawnee for my freshman year , but after that things didn’t work out . I had to go to summer school because I missed too many days for national team camps and all the traveling I was doing . … It was the nion best decision for me to go to YSC U ia Academy , because we trained twice elph a day and that really helped . The ilad school is super flexible too if / Phyou’re missing arrocciotime . Coming from a soccer Cfamily … reg My younger brother Paxten and my G y younger sister Jayden are also binto ph soccer . My brother is in the Philadel - ogra phia Union Academy and my hotsister plays for Real [ New Jersey ] . PMy SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 16 issue 4 SouthJerseyMagazine.com | 37
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SJM_BrendenAaronson_People_7_19_Reg1_Dept 6 / 28 / 19 9 : 50 AM Page 3 S J M | P E O P L E brother doesn’t want to say it , but I think he looks up to me a little bit . He definitely wants to go on the same route that I have ; he’s doing really well right now so I’m happy for him . He just has to keep pushing . I think my sister has the same goal too , so I try to train with them as much as I can and help them out . I think they’re on a really good path . Hobbies away from soccer … Definitely hanging out with my friends and hanging out with my girlfriend . I like to play ping pong too . I play tennis and golf . I play at Medford Village ; my golf game isn’t very good but it’s getting better . I just started last year and I kind of got hooked , so I’m going to try to get out more . Hanging out at the Jersey Shore … I go to Diamond Beach in Wildwood Crest ; we have a house there . I actu - ally just went down because I had two days off . I got pretty sunburned . I try to get down as much as possible . Attending training camp for the U.S . U - 23 team in Utah … That was amazing . Being called to represent your country is always an amazing feeling , especially for the U - 23s . It was an awesome experi - ence and the RSL , where they train , is unbelievable . There will be another camp in September or October , and the Olympics will be next summer . So if I’m chosen I’ll go to the Olympics . Representing my country in any way would be a dream come true . I grew up always watching the U.S . Men’s National Team in the World Cup and to repre - sent my country would mean a lot . His future in soccer … My long - term goal would definitely be to go play in Europe’s leagues ; any league in Europe would be amazing . Having a team like that around you just makes you so much better . Right now I’m definitely focused on the Union and I want to do the best I can for them . But I would love to go over there at some point . When I was younger I went over a lot ; I went to Amsterdam and England . It’s awesome over there . Here football is the big sport , but football here is not as big as soccer over there . That’s what they live and n breathe . SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 16 issue 4 SouthJerseyMagazine.com 38 |