Adam Alvemo: Making the Most of Every Opportunity

MEET Adam Alvemo ‘24

Playing since the age of four, the soccer field is a familiar home to Adam Alvemo. The oldest of three siblings, Alvemo enrolled at Goldey-Beacom College from Kalmar, Sweden which is a Sister City to Wilmington, Delaware.

Following high school, Alvemo wasn’t sure where he wanted to attend College. After working with an agency that recruits students to play sports in the United States, he fielded two solid offers. Ultimately, it was Chari Konomi, his friend and GBC soccer player, who brought him to the GoldeyBeacom family.

“My current teammate, Chari Konomi, enrolled at Goldey-Beacom with the same agency, so they knew he had a good experience, and they recommended the College to me,” said Alvemo. And of course, Konomi offered a few encouraging words including the story of the team’s 2017 CACC (Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference) Men’s Soccer championship.

When he first arrived, it seemed overwhelming, but it became easy. In fact, it was comfortable – so comfortable that Alvemo and his friends agree that many of them come to GBC with the intent to play sports, then transfer to a D1 school. He said what really happens is, “They just come and get really comfortable because it’s a warm culture, and you are tight with everybody.”

While soccer is a major part of his life, Alvemo said, “My vision is starting a couple of businesses and running the basics.” As a Business Administration major with a concentration in Marketing, GBC is the perfect place to start working on his dreams.

Alvemo says the days go by quickly and there’s always something going on. “I don’t have a moment in my day where I can just do nothing. I have workout in the morning, class until 3:00 p.m., then practice again, some homework and then hanging out with my girlfriend – and the day is done,” he said.

While some people may take a purely academic approach to higher education, Alvemo takes an opportunistic approach. “I don’t think of school as learning in the classroom. Of course, I learn a lot in my classes, but I could put my money into my own company.”

Alvemo further explains, “When I’m paying for tuition, for example, I’m not paying for the classes per se. I’m paying more for the opportunity to get here. That’s what opens the door to being in America. Playing soccer in a good environment and being around the right people is a catalyst. It’s more about the opportunities that an American college education presents.”

One night, he and a group of friends were up until 4:00 a.m. just talking about each other’s countries and what is it like to live there. He said, “That night, I really learned a lot about my friends and their countries.”

Alvemo will be a sophomore in fall 2022, and so far, he has enjoyed his time making new friends and learning about different cultures.

This article was previously featured in The Goldey-Beacom College Magazine