Antonio Cortorreal presenting his research project on the Flint water crisis at our Water Fair on June 3.
Every month, we are interviewing one of the young men in our after school program. This month we meet Antonio Cortorreal, who is going into his sophomore year at The Eagle Academy for Young Men of Harlem. His twin brother, Juan, is also in our after school program.
Tell us about your family and other important people in your life.
I live with my dad and my two brothers in Harlem. I am close to my family. My grandfather came to the United States first from the Dominican Republic. First he brought my dad, then he brought my brothers and me. Then he brought my mom and one of my sisters. My other sister, who was grown, stayed back home. I was 7 years old when I came here, and I haven’t gone back since. I still have some family back in the DR: godparents, uncles, and cousins. But most of my family is here.
What is your favorite subject in school, and why?
My favorite subject is math because everything is based on math; it’s how people make computers and technology. If you want a career based in technology, you will need to know math to succeed.
What do you want to be when you grow up, and why?
I don’t know yet. I’m thinking maybe a software engineer. If not that, then I would like to be a professional golfer.
What is your favorite part of what we do at The Bridge Golf Foundation? How do you think it will prepare you for the future?
I like everything. The tutors help us to do well in school to prepare for our Regents tests. And we are learning a new sport that is not really common in a place like Harlem, especially for black and brown boys. Higher grades and test scores help you get into good colleges and succeed in the future. What we do in the program will take me to different places, show me different things, and introduce me to different people.
Besides golf, what other sports do you enjoy playing? Do you have a preference between playing individual or team sports?
I also like playing basketball, football, and baseball. I prefer team sports because they make you a better person, since teamwork helps you to be less selfish. If you’re playing an individual sport, you don’t really develop that skill.
Which section of the program has been your favorite so far? Do any particular lessons stand out in your memory?
Golf, because it’s more physical. In one lesson, Brian told me to stop rotating my backswing so much. When I followed his advice, it helped me with my irons. I started hitting the ball farther and straighter, and I consistently made better contact with the ball. (Check out Antonio’s swing in the video at the bottom of this page.)
What is your favorite trip since joining the program? We’ve traveled to a lot of great places – The Bridge in Bridgehampton, PGA Championship, USGA Museum and Test Center, City College, Club Getaway, etc.
The trip to Club Getaway. There were many different activities that I enjoyed, like swimming in the lake. The activities there taught us to strive and keep going. When I was rock climbing, it was hard, and I got tired, but I had to keep reaching for the next peg to make it to the top.
What’s the strongest part of your golf game right now?
Probably my woods. Everything else I have to practice a lot. Using the woods comes a little more naturally. The weakest part of my game is driving the ball, because it’s hard to keep the ball straight.
What is one fact that nobody in our program knows about you?
I like to go visit my step-grandmother. She lives in the countryside in Pennsylvania.
Favorite sports teams/athletes/music/books?
My favorite book is “Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief,” by Rick Riordan.
We have covered a lot of ground in Character Education/Service learning this year. Can you give any examples of how it has impacted you as an individual in our program and in your daily life?
Public speaking – all the presentations we did. We’ve been doing them ever since we started the program. At the Water Fair, it was easy to speak to everybody and explain my research project to them. Winning the prize money was my favorite part of the Water Fair, and it helped to motivate me. I want to use the money to buy a laptop. It will help me in school since we do a lot of our homework online nowadays, and I can type notes in class while the teacher is speaking.