New country. New culture. No plans. No clear future. What began as uncertainty slowly became purpose for Sang Pi, a freshman TJC soccer player. Before the rankings and recognition, Pi was destined to find a new life away from his home in Myanmar, Southeast Asia, when he immigrated to the U.S. in 2015.

Pi was eight years old when he first touched a soccer ball. “Soccer has helped me become a very hardworking person, because, you know, compared to, like most of the guys on the team, I’m not very talented in terms of that, but you know, that’s when my hard work comes in and staying consistent. Soccer has taught me to work hard,” Pi said.

At the apartment where his family lived in Pflugerville, there was a small soccer field where Pi began to love the game. There were no crowds yet but an open space, a gifted soccer ball and a young boy.

“Whenever my parents would make me mad or disappointed, I’d take my soccer ball, and go to the field, and I would just kick and kick until, all my anger in me disappeared,” he said. “So, it was a way of me coping with something.

Years later, determination and discipline followed him into high school training and games that would help him grow athletically. After graduation in 2024, he faced one of the toughest moments of his life before making it as a TJC athlete. The school he hoped to attend didn’t work out. For a moment, he questioned whether soccer still had a place in his life.

“I had no other plans but to take a gap year. I just took some courses at my community college, which is in Austin, Texas,” Pi said. “During those times, I thought about quitting soccer really, because I didn’t see myself in the future. No colleges wanted me at that point.”

Then came the Soccer Identification Camp, which according to the National Center of Excellence Soccer, is where “aspiring athletes often seek opportunities to showcase their skills and catch the eye of collegiate or professional scouts.”

Unsure what to expect, Pi was selected among more than 80 players competing for a spot.

I was never supposed to come here. I was surprised to hear my name. I felt happy because especially here at TJC, it’s a very good junior college soccer program,” Pi said. “Currently, we were ranked first in the nation out of like all 300 schools. So, it’s definitely an honor to be a part of TJC.

This moment changed everything. Now, he is part of a team full of diversity, languages, and one shared passion for soccer.

Ahanna Agbowo, a midfielder from Munich, Germany, sees Pi’s talent and determination.

“He is a really calm guy who thinks of his teammates and gives off a good vibe,” Agbowo said. “Sang has a lot of faith. He shows it through his dedication and passion in everything he does by always giving his best.”

Attacking midfielder Jona Hofbauer from Regensburg, Germany, has seen Pi’s growth both on and off the field: not just a teammate, but as his roommate.

Sang is a truly kind person with a positive, calm and happy aura. He works hard and consistently on himself to improve his game everyday. That’s very impressive,” Hofbauer said. “You can learn something from him every day. Be it his faith, his perspective on things, or his warm personality to others.

Like many athletes, Pi struggles with the emotional highs and lows that come with competition and being a student athlete. That’s where his faith becomes his anchor to manage his emotions and maintain a positive mindset during his performance.

“I’m a Christian myself, so my faith in Christ is really important. I can play good one day and I can play like so bad the next,” Pi said. “But whenever I found my identity in Christ, I feel like that is what changed my whole mindset, my whole game. I would perform bad, but then it’s not really personal, because it’s just a game at the end of the day, and I have so much more purpose than soccer.”

At TJC, Pi found community and credits much of his development to his teammates.

One thing I learned from them is the willingness to win,” Pi said. “No matter how much pain they’re in, they still want to give their all 100% because they want to win at the end of the day. I think that’s what pushed TJC to be No. 1 this year.

From a young boy kicking a ball to release frustration to a college athlete chasing NCAA dreams, Pi’s story is not only about soccer but also about purpose, perseverance and faith.

“I want to be remembered by my teammates as someone who works hard, is a very dedicated person to whatever they do,” Pi said.