Karim Hussamy left St. Ed’s after his freshman year in order to play with a high profile soccer program at IMG Academy in Bradenton. The idea was to improve his game to the point that it would increase the likelihood of being recruited to play at a Division l college.
When that mission was accomplished and the dream all but assured, he returned home for his senior year and will graduate as a St. Ed’s Pirate. In an important way that was another dream come true.
“I can’t imagine ever going to another school,” Hussamy admitted. “They treat you like family here. I remember when I came back for my senior year, (Head of School) Mr. (Mike) Mersky gave me a big hug and said welcome home.
“I started at St. Ed’s in first grade and this is my 10th year here. I made some great friends here and all of the kids are like family to me. When I came back it was like we continued right where we left off. I didn’t miss a beat and it was almost like I never left.
“Everyone brings you in and they want you to be a part of the community. They really care about you and where you end up. They want you to do well instead of just putting you through the motions. My senior year at St. Ed’s has been a really great experience. It’s nice being back.”
Even with specific goals in mind and a concrete plan to achieve them, choosing the proper pathway can be difficult.
“Coming back to St. Ed’s for my senior year was actually a tough decision,” Hussamy said. “I really didn’t know what I wanted to do. The move to IMG really helped me because it was similar to a college soccer environment. You wake up in the morning and go to practice, and then you go to school in the afternoon. They have a pretty solid soccer team and better academics than most people would think.
“I talked to my parents about it and they thought it might be a good idea to come back here. They really didn’t convince me either way. I know my mom missed me and wanted me to be at home. It was my last chance to live at home for a year, and now I know it was a good decision to return.”
After graduation Hussamy will “end up” in the classroom and on the soccer field at Division l Lafayette College. It became official on National Signing Day, Feb. 3. At the time he told us that Lafayette was his choice because it was one of the first schools to express an interest in him. That was a critical factor, but there was more to the story.
“I visited the school last summer and the campus is really beautiful,” Hussamy told us about the scenery of Easton, Pennsylvania, on the Delaware River. “I also liked the fact that it’s a big campus, but at the same time the school has an intimate academic environment. Lafayette has about 2,500 undergraduate students with a student to faculty ratio of about 10 to 1.
“You’re not just another face in the crowd. You can build relationships with teachers. It’s going be just a little bigger version of St. Ed’s.”
The Pirates soccer team finished with a 10-4-2 record this season and head coach Bill Keating said having Hussamy back was like having another coach on the field with keen instincts for understanding what players and teams must do to be successful.
The same welcome mat that Hussamy found at St. Ed’s upon his return has been rolled out at Lafayette. Between now and then the young man will play a lot of soccer and ponder a few more decisions.
“When I went on my official visit in the fall I met the entire soccer team.” Hussamy said. “They are just a great bunch of guys. I’m sure they will make playing soccer at Lafayette a lot of fun.
“This summer I will definitely be training because I have a fitness test when I get up there. I will be playing a lot of soccer (with a high level club team) this summer. I would like to play soccer somewhere for a few years after college – and then pursue a different type of career – but realistically it would be a dream if I could do that.
“I still have to figure out what I want to major in. I will be working with a civil engineer during my internship in May. I’m definitely thinking about engineering. I will be doing all of that and probably have a job this summer to juggle with everything else.”