The University of Akron Athletics
In Their Own Words - Reinaldo Brenes Alumni Postcard
Akron Athletics wants to hear from YOU!
Send us a postcard! Share your story as a Zips' student-athlete and Alum.
Challenge your former teammates and classmates to send us postcards on all of Akron's Zips' social media platforms.
You can upload your own video challenges on your own Twitter (preferred) or other social media accounts, if you do so, please include #ZipsRiseTogether and #ZipsAlumniPostcardChallenge in your social media posts so we can highlight your efforts. Additionally, please visit GoZips.com/AlumniPostcard to complete an online postcard.
Reinaldo Brenes (2010-13, men's soccer)
What makes you most proud to be a Zip?
All the relationships I was able to build at Akron. Seeing so many successful fellow Zips doing great things around the world.
How are you and your family doing during this time?
My family and I are quarantined in my home country of Costa Rica. The coffee and snack business in the central market is taking a hit in sales, but they are still holding up to be able to pay the employees their salaries. Also looking for ways to help the less fortunate that lost their jobs during this time.
Any messages of hope or inspiration for fellow Zips out there during our current stay-at-home orders?
During this time I would recommend to do the small things right even if you feel down it is imperative to stay on top of things like:Â
- Nutrition
- Physical exercise (at home routines)
- Taking care of your thoughts, staying positive, stopping yourself if you are in a negative spiral.
- Stay connected, FaceTime, WhatsApp friends and family.Â
- Find a hobby, painting, drawing, etc.
- Sleep, maintain a regular pattern. Don’t deviate from it.
Do you have any work from home tips that you have learned while quarantined?
Plan a routine out and try to stick to it.Â
What was/were the deciding factors(s) that brought you to Akron?
The coaching staff, and the fact that I knew some players before coming in like Zarek Valentine, David Meves, Scott Caldwell, Ampai, Blair, Perry Kitchen and Kofi.
What was/were your first impression(s) of Akron?
My first visit was in November, coming from Costa Rica and Florida, my first thought was will I be able to make it through the winter.
One of the best aspects of being a student-athlete is teammate camaraderie. Give us an example from your experience as a student-athlete.
Being part of a high-achieving team on and off the field helps you strive for excellence. Coming in as a freshmen it provides you with great examples of extraordinary athletes and exemplary students. They will provide you with guidance, tips, on how to cope with the demands of being a student-athlete at one of the country’s top programs.
What is it that you have learned from being a student-athlete at Akron that you will use throughout your life after graduation?
Instead of finding excuses, find solutions, be proactive.Â
Being a student-athlete has high physical demands, but also requires mental toughness as well. What have you done to develop both?
I learned that a lot of it has to do with how you talk to yourself. I first had to learn to be able to listen to that internal dialogue. After that being able to identify those negative, energy-drenching thoughts and changing them for positive, encouraging ones. Also learning how to be constantly in a gratefulness state, appreciate all the good things going on for you. Once in this state is hard for negative filled emotions to come in.
Â
Send us a postcard! Share your story as a Zips' student-athlete and Alum.
Challenge your former teammates and classmates to send us postcards on all of Akron's Zips' social media platforms.
You can upload your own video challenges on your own Twitter (preferred) or other social media accounts, if you do so, please include #ZipsRiseTogether and #ZipsAlumniPostcardChallenge in your social media posts so we can highlight your efforts. Additionally, please visit GoZips.com/AlumniPostcard to complete an online postcard.
Reinaldo Brenes (2010-13, men's soccer)
What makes you most proud to be a Zip?
All the relationships I was able to build at Akron. Seeing so many successful fellow Zips doing great things around the world.
How are you and your family doing during this time?
My family and I are quarantined in my home country of Costa Rica. The coffee and snack business in the central market is taking a hit in sales, but they are still holding up to be able to pay the employees their salaries. Also looking for ways to help the less fortunate that lost their jobs during this time.
Any messages of hope or inspiration for fellow Zips out there during our current stay-at-home orders?
During this time I would recommend to do the small things right even if you feel down it is imperative to stay on top of things like:Â
- Nutrition
- Physical exercise (at home routines)
- Taking care of your thoughts, staying positive, stopping yourself if you are in a negative spiral.
- Stay connected, FaceTime, WhatsApp friends and family.Â
- Find a hobby, painting, drawing, etc.
- Sleep, maintain a regular pattern. Don’t deviate from it.
Do you have any work from home tips that you have learned while quarantined?
Plan a routine out and try to stick to it.Â
What was/were the deciding factors(s) that brought you to Akron?
The coaching staff, and the fact that I knew some players before coming in like Zarek Valentine, David Meves, Scott Caldwell, Ampai, Blair, Perry Kitchen and Kofi.
What was/were your first impression(s) of Akron?
My first visit was in November, coming from Costa Rica and Florida, my first thought was will I be able to make it through the winter.
One of the best aspects of being a student-athlete is teammate camaraderie. Give us an example from your experience as a student-athlete.
Being part of a high-achieving team on and off the field helps you strive for excellence. Coming in as a freshmen it provides you with great examples of extraordinary athletes and exemplary students. They will provide you with guidance, tips, on how to cope with the demands of being a student-athlete at one of the country’s top programs.
What is it that you have learned from being a student-athlete at Akron that you will use throughout your life after graduation?
Instead of finding excuses, find solutions, be proactive.Â
Being a student-athlete has high physical demands, but also requires mental toughness as well. What have you done to develop both?
I learned that a lot of it has to do with how you talk to yourself. I first had to learn to be able to listen to that internal dialogue. After that being able to identify those negative, energy-drenching thoughts and changing them for positive, encouraging ones. Also learning how to be constantly in a gratefulness state, appreciate all the good things going on for you. Once in this state is hard for negative filled emotions to come in.
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