- 2016 Highlights
Personal Statement
I am not usually one to toot my own horn, but I do want you to know that I believe I am a great candidate to be recruited by your team for several reasons which I will explain in the next few paragraphs. Most importantly, I am confident that I have my act together and my priorities straight. I am, however, always willing to learn from other people's perspectives and experiences. I willingly admit that I do not know everything. I am more than passionate about lacrosse and continuously seek ways to improve my individual and team play, as well as ways to positively influence my teammates to do the same. I discovered long ago that making mistakes is an important part of learning and of taking calculated risks to reach for the higher goals. It is often how we respond to mistakes that will determine final outcomes. Composure is good, complacency is bad.
First, and foremost, I place my trust in my God. I know that Jesus is my Rock, my Light and my Salvation. Second, I am grateful to my parents that I come from a good home, and that I have received a sound college preparatory education at Fork Union Military Academy where I have learned to be respectful of others. I hold close to my heart the knowledge that respect is something I can only earn through consistent and steadfast "habits of integrity" which stem from my faith and ultimately become my character. My character is further developed and strengthened thru the application of self-discipline combined with both emotional intelligence and maturity. Third is everything else in the paragraphs that follow.
In college, I aspire to (1) learn and understand what I do not yet know within my preferred field of study, Biology, while (2) successfully earning a Bachelor of Science degree, and (3) graduating in the top 5% of my class. I have a strong work ethic and like math, so in addition I can also see myself (4) earning a minor, or perhaps even a double-major in mathematics. I then plan to enter, successfully complete, and graduate from dental school, followed by a career in dentistry or one of its related specialties.
I thoroughly enjoy conquering challenges, not only academically, but also athletically. Every year since I began the sixth grade, I consistently have chosen to put in the work necessary to compete each season in a wide-array of sports. Unafraid of attempting sports which were new to me, I successfully competed in orienteering; I played soccer and football; and I even wrestled. These experiences were enlightening as I learned many life-lessons through my active participation, including lessons about myself. It was and is a blessing to be, in the words of Teddy Roosevelt, "the man in the arena" with opportunities to experience both triumphs and defeats. Ultimately, I discovered three sports which I continue to enjoy: cross-country, swimming, and most of all lacrosse.
I bring a wealth of lacrosse playing experience with me. Thanks to Coaches Al Sadtler and Tommy Brannock, of Seminole Lacrosse of Charlottesville (VA), I began learning the fundamentals of the game when I was just four years old, playing in the summertime sun. I continued to play in the summers with Seminole, and began playing during the spring time through a YMCA league. As I grew older, my dad encouraged me to learn as much as possible from as many different coaches as I could. In time, I learned how to play each and every position. My dad's only rule was that while I could play goalie if I wanted, I was not permitted to play goalie two consecutive weeks in a row. Dad did not want me to get stuck, always having to be the goalie.
Midfield was my primary position the first few years that I played. Next, I wanted to follow in my dad's footsteps as a long-pole, in-close Defenseman, which then led to my playing the LSM position. With all of these various experiences under my belt, I once again moved back to being a short-stick offensive Midfielder, often playing in the hot zone, catching a good feed, shooting and scoring. I was fortunate to attend one of Coach Doug Tarring's lacrosse camps at St. Anne's Belfield. I learned a lot from this experience, especially from working with some of Coach Tarring's stronger stick-handlers.
While in middle school at Fork Union, I played for various club travel teams in addition to our school team. I also invested much of my free-time playing wall-ball. It wasn't long before I began enjoying the return on my investment, evident in my newfound proficiency, utilizing both hands effectively. My stick-handling skills continued to progress and develop. Dad took me to summer camp at The Lacrosse Academy at Denison University in Granville, Ohio where I learned from the camp staff led by Denison Head Lacrosse Coach and former UVA standout Mike Caravana and my dad's coach from VMI, Doug Bartlett. I cherished the opportunity for growth at this first-rate teaching camp, where my team's coach was John Hetzel of the Blue Ridge School (VA).
As a high school junior I moved to Attack where I enjoyed getting assists, and with them the feeling that I was helping my teammates grow stronger and more confident. While playing Attack I also enjoyed capitalizing on opportunities to score in-close. I love to spin right and shoot left. Through the years, I have developed soft hands in-close. I am a down-hill dodger. I love to compete. I am scrappy. I am a "Hoover" with the ground balls. I am continually building up my lacrosse IQ. I know more now than I ever have before, but tomorrow I will know even more...
This year I am finally a senior at FUMA and have been selected as one of our team's captains. I appreciate the high level of confidence my team and coaches have come to expect of me in my leadership and lacrosse abilities by naming me as a team captain, as well as the responsibilities inherent in the job. I believe that everyone on our team has the capacity to be a leader. This is part of my leadership philosophy. My hope is that I will be able to use my influence of others constructively so as to make our whole lacrosse program stronger. Sometimes, I believe, the best leader is the first follower. This year I will lead by example, respecting our coaches' and team's non-negotiables.
Earlier this fall, we had a mini-camp style clinic on campus at Fork Union. The clinic was run by former UVA Head Coach Dom Starsia. I am grateful for the chance to meet him and to have him mentor us from his wealth of lacrosse experiences at the highest levels of the collegiate game. I remain inspired by our time with Coach Starsia, not only because of his knowledge of the game, but because of his character. He leads by example. Coach Starsia exudes a love of the game, and his desire to help others be their best, was clearly evident in the way he conducted himself throughout our time with him. This is how I want to be remembered by those that I influence.
