Q&A with Julio Cervantes
Julio Cervantes
#27 - Forward
Team: Oakland Roots Soccer Club
Hometown: Oakland, CA
Passions & Hobbies: Gardening, Music Production, Exploring Vegan Foods
“Fear is not real. ... It is a product of our imagination, causing us to fear things that do not at present and may not ever exist. That is near insanity. Do not misunderstand me: Danger is very real, but fear is a choice.”
On 4/20/20, Oakland Genesis collaborated with America SCORES Bay Area and the Oakland Roots’ very own Julio Cervantes to deliver our first-ever Instagram Live question and answer session. OGSC would like to give a shout out to SCORES and Oakland Roots for their involvement and continued support, and a huge thank you to the inspiring individuals, Leah Morales and Julio Cervantes, for hosting such a rewarding forum!
Doing something for the first time is simultaneously exciting, scary, and unpredictable, but we’re incredibly proud of how things turned out!
Below you can find some of Julio’s favorite books, local food spots, hometown heroes, and some advice he has for younger players. If you missed the session you can see the full, unedited version below!
Enjoy!
Full Q&A
“As a kid, I always dreamt of something like this... Having a professional soccer team in Oakland... It’s a dream come true.”
JULIO’S TOWN FAVORITES
Damian Lillard
Dame Time
Marshawn Lynch
Beastmode
RECOMMENDED READING
“My advice for younger players: be patient, be coachable, and work harder than the next player.”
THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS
Upon a second watch of our inaugural Q&A session, the first feeling that stood out was one of immense gratitude for the time, honesty, and effort put into the session from both Julio and Leah. There were no financial incentives driving these folks to share the knowledge that they did. Rather, their candid conversation, question engagement, and subsequent responses came from a desire to give back.
As we watched Julio navigate these questions (some serious, some funny, some light, some heavy), one of the themes that stood out the most to us was the connection between mindfulness and sport. Whether it is intentionality in his diet, passions, or practices, it is clear that the mindfulness Julio practices in his life off the field are instrumental in helping him be the successful player he is on it. There is no one right way to play the game, just like there is no one right way to live one’s life. Staying true to the values that speak most to one’s sense of self will generate an authenticity that seems to always lead to success (however success may be defined to you).
Our motivations for hosting this Q&A were to 1) to give younger players more insight into life as a professional soccer player and what it takes to make that dream a reality, 2) to give viewers a unique perspective into a homegrown player’s life in Oakland and how they are dealing with the current times, and 3) to increase a feeling of connection and engagement that many, if not all, of us are missing these days.
We hope this snapshot into the life of Oakland Roots striker, Julio Cervantes, was as enlightening and informative for you all as it was us. If you are a young player that might be interested in learning more about Julio’s experience please don’t hesitate to hit us up!
In Community,
Oakland Genesis Soccer Club
“If you take the time to listen closely, you might hear something you’ve never heard before ”