TAMPA, Fla. - If you ever need to find Gabrielle Privitera, a good place to start looking is the soccer field. 

Odds are good you will find this University of South Florida midfielder running around showing off his soccer skills.

There’s just something about this sport that brings out the best in Gabrielle. He comes alive any time he laces up a pair of cleats and takes off with the ball.

“For me, it’s all about soccer,” he said.

Gabrielle’s been playing soccer since he was 4. And he always thought it would be the only thing he wanted to do in the future. Then he discovered graphic design. And a whole new world opened up.

“I went into YouTube and I just typed photo shop tutorials and sports designs,” Gabrielle said. “And the I kind of fell in love with it. I don’t know,I just tried to do it every day and I just got better and better.”

What began as a creative itch Gabrielle decided to scratch has turned into endless possibilities, including a future career.

“It is a hobby, but it is something that I continue doing maybe for a job or work for a team, something like that,” he said.

Growing up in Venezuela, soccer was everything to Gabrielle. There just weren’t a lot of opportunities to further his game. That’s why in 2014 his family entered the green card lottery and won, earning a ticket to America. 

“Thankfully I got the opportunity to come here, to come to other colleges, play the game I love and keep growing as a student too,” he said.

So grateful for the opportunities afforded to them, and as a way to say thank you in a grand gesture, Gabrielle and his family became United States citizens.

“You just think of all the things, since you’ve been here,  all the things you went through,” he said. “And now becoming a US citizen, like US was already a part of your life, but now it means even more.”

Soccer’s opened so many doors for Gabrielle. It’s taught him life lessons, like overcoming adversity. He battled an injury last year and is looking forward to playing at full strength this season. 

He’s also looking forward to continuing the journey soccer has led him on. 

“Since I got here, it’s been life changing for me,” Gabrielle said. “I’m just trying to do my best, my best every time I can.”