He walks into the gym as he would for any basketball practice. A bag in one hand, he walks to his locker where his shoes and practice gear are. With his shoes laced up, he heads to the weight room. As he hands the bag to his head coach his other coach takes the car seat off one of his closest friends hands. Both coaches welcome Jayleen with cariños. His support system at Bowie is unlike any other in his life.

“(It’s) probably better than my own family so it’s great,” Perez said.

Time management is a big factor for Perez, from doctors appointments for his daughter to his school work, basketball practice and paying the bills for his apartment. With him already living a grown life, he still takes care of his responsibilities but also has those fun nights with his friends and wife. It’s a big difference from living with his mother to now living with his baby girl and his wife.

His wife, class of 2017, has trouble managing time working 12 hour shifts and has trouble finding a babysitter at times, but she still manages to make Perez’s games whether they’re home or away.

“To have the support is amazing, it’s not pushed for but the fact that she can do that shows me a lot and shows me how lucky of a guy I am,” Perez said.

Perez’s girlfriend plays a big role at home, whether its cleaning, cooking, and taking care of Jayleen, but the support she has for Perez is none like other life.

“Work, school, time for basketball and time for your daughter so it’s more like working early on weekends and having time for the family in the afternoon,” Perez said.

The Bowie Cheer page went viral when cheer coach Frances Rios spotted coach Daniel Martinez holding Perez’s baby. It gathered nearly 100 shares.