Carl Rydin is a soccer student-athlete at Dowling. The junior finance major is originally from Sweden, and he shares why he became a Division II student-athlete.

When I applied for colleges in America, I was looking for an institution with a good business program which offers finance and also had a strong soccer program. I wanted the college to be on the East Coast and not too far from a major city. Dowling fit that description well. It offered me an athletic scholarship and also a good finance program with professional professors.

Dowling College is known for being the "personal college" with its small classes, which I believe is the best way to learn since students have the possibility to develop a good relationship with their professors. Since I came here, I have also found it very easy to deal with the rest of the Dowling staff and administration. The Dowling athletics department is always looking out for me and wishing me nothing but success. I have always been helped whenever I have a problem. Hopefully, I can move in to Manhattan and work on Wall Street when I graduate.

But first, I want to win another championship as a part of Dowling's soccer program. I've had three knee surgeries since I came here so I don't know how much longer my body can keep up with the physical stress from soccer.

Division II has its advantages to Division I since more international players are allowed and the age margin is higher. On our team, we have people from all over the world and the diversity it brings is making us more unified both on and off the field.

Basically, I'm very happy I choose Dowling and Division II and I believe it's the best decision of my life.