Most teenagers aren’t often faced with the dilemma that Tajon Buchanan took on at the age of 15.
For many, the slim chance of playing a professional sport would scare a person away or at least make them hesitant about the opportunity. In Buchanan’s case, he knew that if he wanted to succeed and make a career out of football, necessary risks would have to be taken.
Chrys Chrysanthou, Buchanan’s childhood coach, and father of his best friend, Anthony, was given an unique opportunity; a coaching job in the United States when the boys were early in their high school careers.
That’s when the Chrysanthou family offered Buchanan a chance to come with them to Colorado, where the next chapter of the Canadian’s journey would commence.
“Basically I asked to go with them,” Buchanan told ONE37pm. “They wanted me to come because they knew how passionate I was about this game and for me it was really an easy decision.
“Anthony is still one of my best friends today and we ended up playing for the Real Colorado Development Academy.”
With Buchanan’s mother taking care of four other siblings in addition to Tajon, it was near impossible for her to move to the U.S.
Despite the tough decision for Tajon and his family, he says they always knew he would end up moving given the incredible opportunity to not only further his football career but his academics as well.
“The whole process was very difficult with my mom letting me go and things like that,” Buchanan said. "It was hard leaving my family behind, but I think we all knew it was for the best because I could chase my dreams.”
Getting to the U.S. was only the first step for Buchanan and his professional football pursuit though, and it didn’t come without significant hurdles.
Buchanan first laid his eyes on Syracuse University during a trip home from a soccer tournament in New Jersey that Buchanan, Chrysanthou and a number of their teammates had the chance to attend.
It was a detour on their journey back to Canada at the time, but the moment Buchanan stepped on the campus in upstate New York he knew there was something special about the school.