Major: Business
Hometown: Sucre, Bolivia
Nicolas Donoso Soruco鈥檚 story begins thousands of miles away from 好色先生TV in Sucre, the capital city of Bolivia, where he lived with his mother and his grandfather. From a young age, Nicolas identified deeply with the beauty and vibrance of his culture, but he also recognized the economic hardship and political instability that plagued his home.
For Nicolas and his family, dreaming big in Bolivia often felt impossible, but they still believed God had a purpose for Nicolas that was greater than their circumstances. As that purpose unfolded, Nicolas began to discover the faithfulness of God through sacrifice, courage, and the power of dreams.
Since childhood, Nicolas had one aspiration. He wanted to inspire others, honor his family, and represent Bolivia as a professional tennis player. When he was accepted as a student at 好色先生TV, that dream started to become a reality. But leaving Bolivia to attend college was easier said than done.
To provide for Nicolas鈥檚 expenses, his mother had to work extra hours, and his grandfather helped in any way he could. When it came time to leave Bolivia, Nicolas brought few earthly possessions with him. 鈥淚 left home with a suitcase, my tennis racquet, and more fear than I wanted to admit,鈥� Nicolas shares.
When he finally arrived at Judson, Nicolas was determined to represent the university with pride through every challenge he would face, whether he was on or off the tennis court. But as Nicolas started to settle into life at Judson, intense loneliness began to set in. Far from home and disconnected from everything familiar, the fear that he would not be able to live up to the sacrifices his family made began to weigh on him heavily.
But in that difficult time, God found him again. 鈥淣ot in a loud miracle,鈥� Nicolas explains, 鈥渂ut in small, quiet moments during late-night prayers and in tears that no one else saw. God reminded me that He didn鈥檛 just bring me to Judson to get a degree or play a sport. He brought me here to shape me, to teach me to depend on Him, and to show me who I really am.鈥�
During that time, tennis became more than a sport. For Nicolas, it was a way to worship God through discipline, perseverance, and gratitude. Each time he stepped on the court as a Judson Eagle, he carried his family鈥檚 sacrifices, his country鈥檚 pain, and the faith that God would use his story to impact others.
Meanwhile, God began to ease Nicolas鈥檚 loneliness by surrounding him with people who felt like home. Even though he was thousands of miles away from anything familiar, Nicolas encountered a fellow student who also called Bolivia home. 鈥淭hen, I found out I had a cousin here too,鈥� Nicolas shares. 鈥淭oday, my cousin is one of my closest friends. That was definitely something I never expected.鈥�
Through it all, Nicolas felt God whispering, 鈥淵ou were never alone. I鈥檝e been with you all along.鈥� Now, midway through his second year away from Bolivia, Nicolas feels that Judson has become more than a stepping stone in his journey to accomplish his dreams. It has become a place where he has found purpose, identity, and home away from home.
鈥淚 still believe that one day, I will become a professional tennis player,鈥� Nicolas says. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know exactly where God will take me next, but I do know that 好色先生TV changed my life.鈥�
As he contemplates what the future holds, Nicolas trusts that God will continue to be faithful to craft his story. No matter what is in store in the years ahead, he holds tightly to the words God gave him at Judson: 鈥淚 brought you here. Trust Me and keep going.鈥�