COMMERCE CITY — The newcomer who started at forward for the Rapids in their season opener was born in Senegal, moved to Tanzania at age 6, moved to Zimbabwe at age 11, came to the U.S. with a guardian at age 16 and was graduated early from Boston University in December with a degree in international relations.

Dominique Badji knows he is fortunate to be a professional soccer player in the U.S., something that was little more than a dream three months ago.

“I came here, I went to school, I got my degree and now I’m working,” said Badji, 22. “Fortunately I’m doing what I love, but I think that’s the American Dream: being able to do what you love, being able to make money, having an opportunity you don’t have staying back home.”

Badji’s English is impeccable, flowing without the hint of an accent. He came to the U.S. not to pursue a career in the game he grew up playing in the streets of Dakar, but to get an education.

“It’s something that my dad had instilled in me since Day One,” said Badji, whose younger brother remains in Zimbabwe. “Coming from Senegal, academics aren’t the focus for a lot of people there, but my dad was always academically driven. He got himself through high school, through college, and he really wanted to instill that in his kids.”

Badji’s father worked as a translator for the Peace Corps, where he met a volunteer named Janis Timberlake who helped Badji and his father relocate to Tanzania when she took a job there with the U.S. Agency for International Development. Five years later they joined her when she was transferred to Zimbabwe. After she was reassigned to Washington, she became Badji’s legal guardian and he joined her there.

“When she got posted to D.C., I wanted to move,” Badji said. “I wanted a different opportunity, a different environment.”

The transition from Africa to the U.S. was mind-boggling.

“I really wanted to get out of Africa, and being so used to that environment, once you step out everything is amazing,” Badji said. “Little things — trees, cars, roads, infrastructure that a lot of Americans take for granted. Being in Africa, not being able to see those things, and coming here you’re like, ‘Wow.’ “

After attending an Episcopal boarding school in Virginia, Badji starred at Boston University, where he was the offensive player of the year in the Patriot League as a senior. He graduated a semester early.

“When he told me about a year ago that he decided he was going to graduate a semester early, I was skeptical,” said Timberlake. “We’re all just amazed — he took extra classes, he had a job … He’s always been focused. Even when he was 6 years old, he would go out and shoot goals for five hours every day after school, over and over. He’s always been focused and passionate.”

The Rapids drafted him in January with the 67th pick in the MLS SuperDraft. That amounted to little more than an invitation to try out but he was impressive in preseason play and they offered him a contract on March 4. Three days later he made his MLS debut in Colorado’s season opener at Philadelphia, starting as the lone striker.

“When I first came to the States, playing professionally wasn’t in the books for me,” Badji said. “I think a lot of people overlooked me in high school, college. Even coming into the draft I was overlooked a lot. I never really got that encouragement from a lot of people telling me, ‘This could actually be a dream for you. This could be a reality for you.’

“Of course my dad has always been behind me, and my guardian has always been behind me, but besides that people have written me off. Being here, signing, it’s amazing. The day I signed was a huge relief, a huge weight off my shoulder. My parents were so proud. The feeling was just unexplainable.”

Timberlake went to Philadelphia to see his debut.

“We wouldn’t have missed that,” Timberlake said. “It was awesome.”

As a rookie making a big transition to the pro game, Badji may find himself primarily playing behind Deshorn Brown, Colorado’s leading scorer the past two seasons who injured an ankle in preaseason. Coach Pablo Mastroeni loves Badji’s attitude, though.

“I think his upside is as far as he wants to go,” Mastroeni said. “He’s got all the attributes that a top goal scorer would need in this league. I’m looking at a guy that is hungry. That, coupled with technical aspects and tactical awareness, is the key ingredient in someone achieving what they want — the desire to overcome any obstacles to get to where you want to be. He embodies that.”

John Meyer: jmeyer@denverpost.com or twitter.com/johnmeyer