Many 7-year-olds who are athletic have a pie-in-the-sky outlook about their futures, not really grasping the concept that becoming a professional athlete takes not only an incredible amount of work and talent, but also the right set of circumstances.

ON HIS WAY UP: Stafford Township’s Jackson Feeney, 14, has played for several years with Real Futbol Academy and this week left for Cincinnati, where he will take the next steps toward becoming a pro soccer player with the FC Cincinnati Academy. (Supplied Photos)

Jackson Feeney didn’t think about it at that age. But now, at 14, he gets it, and he’s grabbing every opportunity he’s given to play at the highest levels of soccer, knowing it may someday pay off in a big way.