Carlos Soto ’25 isn’t someone who seeks the spotlight. But over the past four years, he’s earned the respect of teammates, classmates and teachers alike through steady leadership and a strong sense of responsibility. Whether on the field or in the classroom, Carlos brought consistency, humility and care to everything he did.
Athletics played a central role in his Pine Crest experience. He played football and soccer all four years and ran track for two. More than just a way to stay active, sports became a source of community and growth. “At first, it was just something I did after school,” Carlos said. “But over time, it became the best part of my day.”
For Carlos, football became more than a sport. It was the foundation of his Pine Crest experience. “It gave structure to my days, taught me how to manage my time and built a community that felt like family,” he shared. “Even when it was tough, especially in those summer practices, it was fun. We’d joke that we wished it was hotter, just to prove how far we’d go for each other.”
As a team captain, Carlos saw leadership not as a title but as a responsibility. “I had older teammates who showed me what it meant to lead. Not by yelling, but by being there early, staying late, and showing up every day. I wanted to be that for the younger guys.”
When Carlos joined the team as a freshman, there were just a handful of classmates on the football team. By senior year, that number had more than doubled. “We worked hard to make football something people wanted to join,” he said. “It became about more than just playing. It was about building something.”
As a team captain, Carlos focused on being the kind of leader he once looked up to. “I remember the older guys when I was a freshman,” he said. “The way they carried themselves, the way they made time for us. I wanted to give that back.” Even when the demands of a varsity sport piled up, he made time to encourage younger teammates and keep the culture of the program strong. “Winning was important, but so was making it a place people felt proud to be part of.”
That sense of commitment extended into the classroom, too. A key moment came in a pre-calculus class during his sophomore year. “Mr. Curran told me, ‘It’s not that hard.’ At first I didn’t get it, but he meant that with effort and focus, you can figure things out.” That simple advice stuck. “It changed how I approached school, sports, everything.”
Carlos describes Pine Crest as a place that doesn’t let you coast. “You can’t just exist here. You have to do something,” he said. “That taught me how to focus, how to manage my time and how to care about the things I choose to be part of.”
This fall, Carlos will attend the University of Notre Dame, where he plans to study finance, possibly double majoring in accounting. He’s excited to join his older brother Eddie ’16 who is currently a law student at Notre Dame, and explore new leadership opportunities through business clubs and student life. Though he won’t play varsity sports, he’s looking forward to staying active through intramurals and cheering on the Fighting Irish from the stands.
Being the youngest of four Pine Crest alumni (Carolina ’13, Eddie ’16 and Andrés ’17), Carlos had the benefit of perspective. “I always say I tried to learn from everything my siblings did right, and everything they might’ve done differently,” he said. “That’s the blessing of being the youngest. You get to watch and learn.”
Reflecting on the people who shaped his experience—coaches, teachers, teammates—Carlos feels gratitude most of all. “It’s a place full of people who care,” he said. “And that makes you want to care, too.”
