Damian Cantu is in his first season with the Cru, attacking college for the first time. On top of that, he's also navigating through a career as a paratrooper for the United States National Guard. Read about Damian, his career as a paratrooper and his new venture with UMHB Men's Soccer.
What is your career goal and why?
My career goal is to work in a job where I can provide safety to the community or be able to help others when needed.
Why did you choose UMHB?
I chose to come to UMHB because my older brother and girlfriend both attend UMHB and have told me how great their experience is. They also said the vibe at UMHB is amazing, especially with all the events they have going on throughout the year. So I thought, why not come experience it with my favorite people?
You're a paratrooper in the National Guard. Tell us all about that.
It wasn't easy going through infantry training and following up with airborne school since I was gone for close to eight months. The training itself was the biggest challenge I had, mainly because we had little to no contact with any family or friends, but I will say at the end of the day I'm grateful to have faced it straight on because I have grown better as a person, and being alone really helps you build a relationship with the Lord. The best thing I heard while I was at training that I carry with me now is "You will never discover Christ is all you need until Christ is all you have." You also start to realize how much more grateful you should be for the little things that you have and start to see things differently. My favorite part about being a paratrooper is jumping out of planes! At first I definitely didn't think I had it in me because I was afraid of heights, but the whole point of life is to live to the fullest and learn things as you go, so I thought why not. The first few times it was the worst thing ever. I couldn't stop my body from shaking; my heart was beating fast, but the moment I exited the plane, it was the best feeling ever. The worst part is probably the landing for sure; you land so hard that it feels like you are getting tackled by someone running full speed at you. I would also say all the gear we have to carry, including the weapon, just makes it so much worse, but we have to be able to survive for a few days if necessary. Jumping at night is super scary because you can't see anything, and you land a lot sooner than you think, but overall, while you are in the air and see all the town lights, it's beautiful.
What made me want to do it was really my love for history and how incredible it was reading about all the heroic campaigns we have had in wars. It was also very motivating seeing all the stories of men who made the biggest sacrifice for their loved ones and their country. Some people don't understand the significance of that, me included, but since I've joined, I have met a lot of great people. Some of those people have lost friends while fighting for our country, and yet they continue to serve for the person next to them and their families. Once you see through other people's perspectives, you come to realize that maybe your life isn't as bad, so make the most of it.
Tell us about soccer
I have been playing soccer since I was four years old, and even though I don't remember when I fell in love, I know that I have never fallen out of love with it. I love the ability to play with a team that you can call a family. You go out there every game and play to the best of your ability even if you run out of energy because you know the guy next to you or in front of you is also playing with all their heart.
How is it so far trying to balance it all?
I just started college, so I'm not sure how it'll work just yet, but as of now I'm focused on making good grades and giving it my all on the field. I have had to miss practice already and school to do an airborne jump, and it will be like that throughout the year, but I just have to communicate with my professors and coaches beforehand so I can figure out what I need to do before I leave or miss. The military training really helped me mentally more than anything because everything you do is still failure, so the days we have hard sessions or I'm tired of soccer, I know that I have it in me to keep going; I don't give up that easily. Having so much to carry at one time is difficult, but it also helps me grow as a person and be more efficient with everything I do. I can't make excuses for myself because if I did, I wouldn't get anything done. Overall I have loved the experience and wouldn't trade it for anything. Yes, it gets hard some days, but there are people out there who have it worse, so there is no reason to complain; just get it done. I can also say I have the best people by my side supporting me and encouraging me when I need it; without them, it would be so much harder, so I'm grateful for them always.
