- 2017 Highlights
Personal Statement
My dream is to play basketball as a student-athlete at college in the United States. I want to play at the highest level possible while pursuing a degree in Athletic Training.
From an early age, sport has been a huge part of my life. At first, it was mainly soccer, gymnastics and swimming. I then joined various teams as my school offers a wide range of sports opportunities. Basketball has now become my number one sport and I train at least 12-14 hours a week while maintaining high academic standards.
During the summer term of 2013, I joined a basketball ECA (Extra Curricular Activity) run by an outside academy and I truly enjoyed the training. At the end of the first session, the coach asked me if I was new in Bangkok. Not really … I was born here! He saw that I had the fighting spirit and tenacity a player needs; he then got in contact with my parents. That’s how it all started!
In the future, I would love to play representative basketball for my home country, Belgium. I am passionate and committed to playing at the next level and I am willing to push myself to exceed my potential. I understand the responsibilities required to study while playing sport and I have the drive to meet them. I truly believe I can achieve my goals and my dream because I have the “combined package”. I am dedicated to sports, academics and extra-curricular activities. I feel a real commitment to a wide range of school life aspects.
I am a multi-sport athlete. I balance my time between school representative teams and year-round basketball training and competitions. I have been part of three varsity teams in the last few years and a variety of U15 (Freshman) teams. This makes me a well-rounded athlete who is willing to make sacrifices to achieve goals. At the school sports awards celebration I received many awards (including MVP and Coaches’ Choice as well as the Senior Sportsman of the Year). As captain, I led my Freshman basketball team to a BISAC (Bangkok International Schools Athletic Conference) Championship and have been in four SEASAC (South East Asian Student Activities Conference) Finals (Basketball and Softball) winning the 2016 Basketball Championship. On the road to being a FOBISIA (Federation of British International Schools in Asia) champion, I jumped 1.72m in the high jump in my freshman year. I won three gold medals and one bronze at BISAC Track & Field. I played soccer outside school with BSL (Bangkok Soccer League) for over 10 years. I am now Assistant Coach of the Freshman basketball team. I also have a variety of qualifications: Sports Leaders Award, PADI Scuba Diving Open Water Qualification and have passed an Intermediate Sailing Course.
I am in my senior year of high school and I am completing the IB (International Baccalaureate ). I am studying Math, English (language & literature), Biology, Physics, Geography and Spanish. I am prdicted to achieve a 4.0 unweighted GPA. I took my IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) exams in my sophomore year and took the IGCSE Math exam one year earlier. I ended up with a 3.91 unweighted GPA. I sat all my exams in my second language. My mother tongue is French, which I speak at home with my family, and I am learning Spanish at school; I also studied Mandarin for six years. I achieved gold certificates and have been to the next round in the UKMT (United Kingdom Mathematics Trust) Challenge.
Outside of the sporting arena, I am a member of various extra-curricular groups. I play the trumpet with the Jazz Band, and enjoy performing regularly in annual concerts. I have played the trumpet for almost 11 years and achieved a Merit in a Grade 5 Exam. I did the Duke of Edinburgh International Award program (an outdoor education internationally recognized program). I received the Bronze Award (for walking) and the Silver Award (for cycling). I am a committee member for various community projects, e.g. School Marine Conservation Group and TechUp. I am also a House Leader at school. As part of this role, I organize House events and motivate others to compete. I am also an executive member of the school's Athletic Council.
Living and studying in an international setting, alongside students from across the globe, has allowed me to have many different experiences and lots of friends from various nationalities. I would describe myself as a global citizen who is able to communicate with others from different backgrounds. I am very aware of and sensitive to other cultures, languages and traditions and I respect them. As a leader I understand the appropriate qualities required for being part of a successful team. I believe in cooperation and teamwork. I am a risk taker and an inquirer. I am balanced, reflective and committed. Whether I am in school or playing sport I have the assets of a natural leader. However, if I am not in a leadership role, I can easily adapt to become a team member/follower. In addition to this, I am part of a close family unit and have grown up with four older sisters, which has developed useful skills such as tolerance and patience.
I am a well-rounded student-athlete who can organize and manage time to balance all aspects of my sports, academics and extra-curricular activities. This is why being a student-athlete at college would suit me to perfection and is something I deeply desire and will work intently to achieve.
