If there’s a road map to success, Fendy Santos seems to have found it.

Santos is a senior at the Urban Assembly School for Law and Justice in Brooklyn. He joined “Seizing Every Opportunity,” an academic program aimed at getting a jump start on advanced classes, on top of his already-packed academic schedule.

“Hard work allows me to be better, because without the hard work, you’re really not gaining anything,” Santos said.


What You Need To Know

  • Fendy Santos grew up playing soccer, and was thrilled to help his team to an undefeated season last year

  • In middle school, Santos quickly realized that he needed to start prioritizing academics. He's never looked back, and is now third in his class when it comes to GPA

  • Santos will attend Emory University in the fall, where he plans on playing soccer on the side

Now, five Advanced Placement courses later, Santos still holds on to a 95 GPA. He loves calculus.

“What can I do better? I always look for something I can do better, because I always feel like there’s always improvement that you can strive for," he said. "I don’t really want to be number one. I just want to be the best self that I can be."

His other passion? Soccer, where he’s learned lessons both on and off the field.

“Growing up, I really loved soccer, and I cared about sports more than I cared about school,” Santos said.

Though his priorities have shifted, the team captain still applies that same hard work on the pitch. Last year, the Eagles achieved an undefeated season. Now, leading a younger squad, Santos wants to make sure they understand “team” comes first.

“It’s more about scoring and winning together as a team, because that’s how we win. We win as a team and we lose as a team,” he said.

As a peer tutor, Santos hopes to set an example that anything is possible, if you put in the work.

“So it brings me a lot of joy to be able to help them and literally direct them, and show them that this is what you need to do and this is why you’re doing it. It gives me a sense of purpose,” he said.

Santos is excited to attend Emory University next year to pursue finance and economics, with a little soccer on the side, knowing if he puts in the hard work, success will follow.