Ariel Perczek '23 Recruiting Profile

Soccer. Where can I begin? The sport has helped me grow in ways I could never have imagined. It has taken me places I thought I would never be. Without a doubt, it has changed my life and I am certain it will continue to do so. My earliest memory of soccer was when I was 9 years old watching the 2014 World Cup on the couch with my family in Colombia. We were watching the Colombia vs Uruguay game when James Rodriguez scored one of the most impressive goals in World Cup history. Seeing the smiles and even tears coming from my family’s faces after the goal opened my eyes to the love they had for the sport. It was at this point I realized that playing soccer was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I wanted to make my family just as proud as James Rodriguez did.

By playing soccer, I have been able to achieve tremendous personal growth. When I think of all the people I have crossed paths with on my soccer journey, one word comes to mind: humility. For me, humility is everything. When I say humility, I refer to my burning desire to grow each and every day, as well as my ability to put my head down and work hard. Humility has kept me level-headed throughout my life, allowing me to be a leader for my teammates. Being humble has not only changed my mindset but has increased my ability to improve as a player, allowing me to establish a relentless work ethic. Through these means, I have been able to achieve great success in the sport, training with a number of high-level professional and collegiate athletes. Without a doubt, each of these individuals has taught me something unique and shaped me into the person I am today.

Beyond just succeeding on the soccer field, I have been a standout student in the classroom. Starting with courses, I have been able to excel in a total of seven rigorous AP courses up to my Junior year with a plan to take another five during my senior year. Because of my great success in these classes, I was awarded the Scott Weigley Scholarship, being one of just two students to receive this prestigious academic honor. Moreover, I was recognized as one of the top fifteen students in my school, becoming a member of a program called Shark Scholars. This program, along with the highly exclusive Business Fellowship offered by NSU, has allowed me to strengthen my academic portfolio and take part in valuable experiences that will stick with me for years to come. Beyond just at my school, I have been recognized for my hard work in the classroom at a national level. Proudly, I can say I earned membership in College Board’s National Hispanic Recognition Program and qualified to become a National AP Scholar.

All in all, I look forward to what is to come both on and off the field in college. As I enter this next phase of my life, I plan to continue developing as a player and learning each and every day from those around me. At the end of the day, I am certain I will contribute to a positive team environment and leave a positive mark wherever life takes me.