Irving Decena is a sixteen-year-old junior taking the West Wind for the very first time. He was born in Calabash and has lived here his whole life with his two parents. Decena has no siblings and growing up he often spent his time with his friend outside, riding bikes and playing soccer around his neighborhood.

“Although I have no siblings, I never had to feel alone because my best friend felt like an older brother to me,” said Decena. “I never felt alone because I have loving parents and friends.”

Decena has been a part of the high school soccer team for three years and is excited for this year’s season. When he was a freshman, he played on the junior varsity team and later on in his sophomore year he was promoted to the varsity school team, where he was able to play with his childhood best friend.

“I felt like a little kid again playing with my childhood best friend, except I wasn’t a little kid anymore— I was way older now,” said Decena. “I’ve made many other friends throughout high school, and now they are all like family.”

Decena became interested in joining the West Wind when he was scrolling on TikTok, seeing all the hilarious videos the West Wind posted. Seeing his friends walk the school and interview people was another major factor of Decena joining West Wind.

After high school, Decena hopes to go to trade school and pursue a career in HVAC. His parents always told him how handy he was around the house. He decided it was a good idea to go to school for something he was skilled at.

“I would like to go to trade school,” said Decena. “I would like to have formal education without going the full four years, and it helps that I won’t have college debt to worry about when I’m older.”