LAYLA CHU
SMALL TOWN, BIG DREAMS
ACCESS U Alumni Spotlight | Saint Mary’s College of California '28
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Layla's young yet impressive soccer career is a reflection of her dedication, resilience, and unmatched confidence. She began playing soccer at the age of seven, and quickly demonstrated natural talent and passion for the game, joining a local team in her area. Layla’s story takes us from her family's rich cultural heritage, with roots in Salinas, California, and Guanajuato, Mexico, to the sacrifices made by her parents, who tirelessly drove her to practice in San Jose three times a week.
Layla's path has been marked by significant achievements, including breaking school soccer records, earning a spot on the Pachuca Women’s Soccer Team (Liga MX Femenil pro team), and becoming the first girls Division 1 commit from Monterey High School. Her academic excellence, always maintaining a GPA of 3.5 or higher, is just as impressive as her athletic abilities. Layla’s participation in the Chevron Soccer Academy tryouts led to a full scholarship offer from ACCESS U Foundation. Both experiences fueled her ambitions and paved the way for her to become a Division 1 college athlete at Saint Mary's College of California.
As she prepares for the next chapter, Layla's story inspires young athletes, showcasing the power of believing in yourself and holding yourself accountable to a regimen of excellence.
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Read full interview below.
FAMILY, CHILDHOOD & HIGH SCHOOL
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How did your soccer story begin?
I started when I was 7 years old and played on a local team in my area. I later transitioned to the Bay Area to play in a higher level.
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Tell us about your family. What are their occupations?
My mom is from Monterey, California and is a Manager at the company Apple.
What sacrifices did you or your family have to make, for you to study and play at Saint Mary's College of California?
My parents have been driving me to practice 3 times a week in San Jose, CA, which is an hour and a half away from where I live and they have been doing this for 4 years.
Share with us about some achievements and recognitions that you are proud to have obtained at the academic and athletic level?
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- I broke school soccer records at my high school (Monterey High School): Monterey High is where I've graduated and that school wasn't really big on girls soccer. It just recently became popular my Freshman year, because I helped the team go to championships and my first year is when I broke the goal scoring record.
- I received a spot in the Pachuca Women’s Soccer Team.
-I was the first girls Division 1 commit at my school, which brought a lot of spotlight: it was a really big thing, committing to a D1 while I was a junior.
-I have kept a 3.5 and higher GPA all my 4 years.
I keep continuing to break my own records.
Did you feel like having accolades put more pressure on you, or do you think it just inspired you even more to continue to break your own personal records?
I love pressure, it helps me so much to inspire myself and others more. I wanted to keep growing, I didn't want to stop there, so I kept working hard. I wanted more for my community and the younger girl athletes and boy athletes around us, to see that “you can do it, if you put your mindset into it”.
It's your hard work at the end of the day and I could say there is pressure in becoming a role model, because I want every girl to succeed in my County. I see myself in them, and I know how much they can grow now, because I've seen it and I've done it. So I know their story is not done yet.
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CHEVRON SOCCER ACADEMY PROGRAM
You attended a Chevron Soccer Academy tryout in 2022, which is free and open to the community, and were selected by ACCESS U scouts to join our program. What do you remember about your tryout experience and why is it important for companies like Chevron to offer free clinics and support youth soccer?
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I remember how nervous I was just because this was a new experience for me. I knew some familiar faces and old teammates so I had people to connect with. In the final game, I was the only girl on my team so I had to play my best.
Having the Chevron Soccer Academy tryout is important to us younger athletes because it gives us a whole new experience of the game. It gave me new connections and I traveled to places I’ve never visited. Also playing in front of scouts I never thought I would be able to.
How did you find out about the Chevron Soccer Academy tryouts?
I found out about this on Instagram.
Would you recommend the Chevron Soccer Academy to friends and family interested in being discovered?
Yes, I still mention it to many soccer players in Salinas, CA.
What would you like to say to the Chevron team who organized the Chevron Soccer Academy program?
I would like to say thank you for this opportunity I was able to receive. They believed in my skills to be able to go to the next level of soccer and showcase my skills. I’m grateful for the chance I was able to have to be noticed by many Mexico teams and put my name out there.
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ACCESS U & APPLYING TO COLLEGES
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How did ACCESS U Foundation guide you through the college application and recruiting process?
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We had meetings and they would talk about how to get in contact with colleges and what you need academically as well to go to college.
How are you preparing for the transition from high school (Monterey High School) to a Division 1 college athlete (Saint Mary's College of California)? What are your expectations and personal goals?
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Going to college right now, I'm pretty excited about it because it's a new life. I'm gonna have different teammates, it’s a different world, different expectations, a different level and I've been ready for this and I think I'm gonna excel really well in the next level.
My expectation is playing at the college level will be more intense than any levels I have played before. Being able to play with the top girls around the country. My personal goal for this upcoming year is to play on the Mexico National team and do well in school.
What are your summer plans to prepare for your college soccer season?
I’m currently doing rehab for my knee and each day I've been working hard to get back on the field stronger.
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How did you find out that you got accepted into Saint Mary's College of California? Where were you and what can you share about that moment?
I attended ECNL Arizona showcase and during the event, Saint Mary's texted me after my first game. Two days later I got a phone call before my class started. I was in the bleachers outside and I was just on my phone thinking, “Am I really getting this phone call at school right now?”. Saint Mary's offered me a full ride. It was my first offer as well to a Division 1 college. I called my mom and told her right away and we later talked about the decision I was going to make.
What colleges did you consider and how did you ultimately decide on Saint Mary's College of California? What factors were important in your decision process?
Colleges I considered were Cal Poly and University of San Francisco. I chose Saint Mary’s because of the connection I had with the Head Coach and the Assistant Coach. Cal Poly SLO (San Luis Obispo) was also interested, but they sadly don't offer full rides. A big factor during my decision was the scholarship money. Saint Mary’s offered me a full ride which is what I wanted.
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Have you already chosen a major? If so, why did you decide to study that?
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I have chosen Biology Medicine to become a Surgeon.
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ADVICE & LEGACY
Is there anyone you particularly want to inspire or represent as a college scholar-athlete?​
I want to inspire the younger athletes in Salinas, CA, because not everyone is able to receive what I have gotten and I want to show that with hard work and passion you can reach your goal.
As a woman in soccer, how do you Layla Chu want to impact the game?
As a woman in soccer, it’s hard to have people recognize you for your skills and ability. I want to get more recognition for women’s soccer and stop having men underestimate the hard work we put in on the field and outside the field.
Have you dreamed of playing for a National Team?
It’s been a goal for so long and it’s my next goal to achieve. I am eligible for the Chinese National Team, the Mexico National Team and the US National Team. I am actually kind of in the process with the Mexico National team with Rafael Calderón (ACCESS U Foundation Scout). My experiences at the Chevron Soccer Academy tryouts and Alianza de Futbol Showcase, and with ACCESS U Foundation, all helped me really get closer with the Mexican National Team and the teams over there as well.
What are three words you would use to describe Layla’s formula or philosophy to succeed on and off the field?
Confident, creative, and passionate.
Is there a mantra or a routine that you have before you get on the field?
I like to take pre-games really seriously. I'm not the one joking, you won't see me laughing, you'll see me with a straight face, just headsets on, listening to music, getting ready for the game. And before games I envision myself on the field: “What will I do today”? I’ll set some goals on the side, in the back of my head, I'll set some or try this move. I'm a forward, so goals are a big thing. I try to set goals like “you’ve got to score this or even assist”. I love assisting, because I feel like it counts as a goal in my opinion.
The night before the game, I like to watch footage of me playing at my older games, seeing the mistakes, because I believe watching yourself play in the past will help you so much in the future. Focusing before your game is so important because it helps put you in a good headspace.
Also eating well and light is really good for the game because I don't want to feel heavy when I'm running. I want to feel fast, able and healthy, I want to feel good when I play.
And another thing is looking good, I love doing something with my hair. I like looking clean, my jersey’s clean, no wrinkles, nothing. I'm also a believer with God. So I do love to pray to him before games, I do talk and I just hope for the best.
You're an inspiration to a younger generation and the girls on your team, but was there someone that throughout your time playing soccer that you're like “I really want to be like that person,” or “she/he is someone that I look up to”? Or was it more like you did it on your own?
I definitely looked up to Ronaldo, which is a big person just because I love his vibe on the field. As a forward, you need that confidence.
In my County there hasn't really been anyone who has gone far in girls soccer and I didn't really have a role model to look up to. I think my mindset was: “I need to be that person for the youth.” I had to become one (a role model) for myself and others. I want to help the whole soccer community. I want to say I have succeeded with that, I have helped a lot of girls and especially my sister's classmates. She's a fifth grader and they love seeing me on campus and I'm like, “I can't believe they know me, that they’ve heard of me because of the news and newspapers, the school…”, and it's just a good feeling.
How do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
I see myself in 5 years entering the NWSL (National Women's Soccer League) draft and hopefully playing at San Diego Wave. When I visited and played there, it's actually such an amazing vibe. I think I've actually played probably one of my best soccer over there; because of the weather and the fields are amazing. I think I feel like they prioritize the younger athletes on their team. They'll help them succeed and I just think that San Diego Wave is the next team to be on as a younger athlete.
Do you have an encouraging message or advice to share with high school underclassmen who dream of being recruited to play college soccer and following in your footstep?
Playing in a higher level will help you get more attention from college scouts. The work you put in outside the field will show on the field and you can’t give up on yourself because at the end of the day, it’s your dream and you have to do anything to get there.