Personal Statement
Soccer has become a key part of my life, and it’s helped shape who I am and how I approach academics. I grew up playing many sports and as soccer became more important and my passion, I was taught and pushed to maintain other interests and focuses that would support my possible future in soccer. I am a goalie but was not allowed to play the position until I was 13 and although frustrated by this rule as a young kid, I now understand. I was the starting sweeper on my club team, a really good baseball player, and worked hard in every area of life to be told "not yet". After turning 13 I was allowed to approach my coaches and let them know I wanted to be a goalie and was determined no matter what I had to do. It was not long before my arm from baseball, my skill with my feet and the field, and my frustration turned into passion that I quickly became the starter not just on my team but moved up to play with kids 3 years older where I was also quickly the starter. I have never looked back and my drive just in life of working hard and understanding there are no shortcuts will carry with me.
I have been fortunate to travel the country playing soccer for not just my team but other teams playing goalie. My most proud moment was playing in the largest tournament in the world the Gothia Cup in Sweden with a team that was pretty average but also passionate and out of over 200 teams in 2018 in my 03 age we made the final 16 teams. Teams were better with skill level, better with the psychology of the game, but we fought. I have never been shot on so many times every game, stopped so many shots, and had a chance to really become the leader on my team as I did in this tournament in Sweden. I was recognized by other coaches and my own team and with so few goals scored on me at such a level, I knew then that if I work hard, I can achieve what I set out to do. With school for example I put the pressure on me and not my parents. It is up to me and only me in what I can accomplish.
