Adam Abdullah '17 Recruiting Profile

Focusing on what makes me grow and achieving my dreams are key to my success.   I am a founding member of Frederick Douglass Academy's
first football team.  Our first Junior Varsity team was formed within 2 months and closed the inaugural season in first place.  And, because of my leadership on and off the field, I received the coveted Coach's Award for 2013.  My second year began with the responsibility of being a team captain for the J.V. – while playing both offense and defense.   Upon moving onto the Varsity Team, in my junior year, we made it into the PSAL Division Cup Championship.  In my senior year, we again led the Division with an 11 – 0 record leading into the championship game, but lost in overtime.

Football is all about commitment and teamwork.   My positions on the field (defensive end/split end/special teams) and as a Captain supports the team's overall success.   I apply this philosophy to lacrosse as well.

Leadership has taught me to be direct – with myself and others.  As a team captain, it has been a journey to understand and convey that sometimes defeat can lead to victory, that losing is not to be something to feared but can be an emotion which can be changed into
the hunger and need to be successful, to win.   The responsibility of leadership has also taught me to be direct while using
good judgement.  I’m invested in success, not only in terms of goals set for the current and upcoming game but, more
importantly, for my scholastic achievement.   

Academically, I have been a student in the Schomburg Junior Scholars program, a pre-college African-American studies program at the Schomburg Center/New York Public Library, the Bronx Museum of the Arts and City Arts programs for two years while also studying and being a teacher’s assistant in Japanese (for two years) and being a member of my high school’s Robotics program.  Seeking out these challenges and opportunities that have push me, allowing me to grow while setting new goals and working with other students who are also equally unique and interesting (my fellow geeks) has also helped to sharpen my focus toward success.  

There is a balance in life you must also respect and a responsibility to use your talents to give back. This year I was fortunate to attend the Bowery Mission’s summer Leadership program, a faith and adventure-based, leadership development program working with at-risk youth.  In 2014, I participated in the National Urban League’s youth summit, a college-immersion experience with over 500 students from across the country.  We stayed on campus at Xavier University and spent five-days learning about how to prepare for college through workshops,
attending college fairs and identifying realistic solutions to issues we face.

Attending college as a student-athlete is one step in many of the future accomplishments that I have set for myself.  I plan to put my all into my
studies, for you get out of life what you put into it. I quote one of my mentors when I say, “either you gain yardage, you lose yardage or you stand
still.”  

I will never just stand still.