Some people’s career choices stem from what they finally choose to study in college, while others know from the start. Rossiano Ra Bon is one of the few who had his heart set on a certain career path from the start. 

A lover of sports for as long as he can remember, he enjoyed watching and playing football since he was 6 years old. “My father was always big on sports, so my sister and I grew up in a home where football was always on TV, which encouraged me to go in that direction,” Ra Bon said. 

Ra Bon transferred from San Jose City College to De Anza College in search of a better atmosphere to pursue his athletic aspirations. He is majoring in kinesiology in hopes of becoming a physical trainer in the future. 

“I hate being lazy, I love being on the move all the time. This is why I love sports so much,” he said. He enjoys the adrenaline rush and the exhilaration of the game, and the competitiveness to win.

The excitement and passion of sports comes with a few drawbacks as well. Ra Bon recently suffered an injury to his ankle when out on the field playing football. He states that it is just a minor sprain, and that it is not enough to keep him “tied to his bed.” 

Constantly out on the move, he explains that “injuries come and go in sports, but you just [have] got to suck it up and keep doing it for what you love! For me, it’s football and track.”

A member of the football team, Ra Bon enjoys the benefits of the weight room in the main gym at De Anza with free weights and strength conditioning apparatus. Currently on the track and field team, he stays in shape by constantly being in the workout room and playing on the field.

Although sports have a large impact on his life, Ra Bon multitasks focusing on his classes and maintaining his grades. De Anza provides a full-time academic adviser for the student athletes. Ra Bon explains that he is able to stay on track with the help of these academic advisers, and that he is able to balance it out with his physical activities.

The De Anza football team has received recognition as the Scholar Team Award recipients for California in 1995. With the 2011 season underway for track and field, the Dons are scheduled to compete across the state and Ra Bon is excited to show what he has to offer.