Dennis Mejia '18 Recruiting Profile

From an early age, I spent time on soccer fields. My uncle used to bring me down to the field and I would watch the men play, occasionally joining in. However, it was not until I began to play intramural soccer, when I was 4, that I began to develop a very real passion and love of the beautiful game. This love started with the friends I made on the pitch, friendships that carried over off the field. It was the impact of the game and these friends, young men I consider brothers, that helped shape who I am today. I eventually learned that the same drive I have to be a better soccer player can also be used in the classroom. The focus on the field I developed has served me well as I continually push myself to be a better student. As a goalie, I developed leadership skills and communication skills that have given me confidence. This confidence, leadership, drive and growth I have made has increased my chances of being a winning soccer player and exemplary student.

I have developed goals for myself both on the field and off. First, and perhaps most important, I want to graduate high school with a high GPA while developing my soccer abilities. I want to be the true definition of a scholar athlete. Doing this will increase the chance that I will put myself in a position to select the college that is the best fit for me. I want to be able to study sports medicine in college with the hopes of becoming a physical trainer. This path was cemented for me this past year when I faced what was, fortunately, my first real obstacle in my soccer career. In a game I was involved in a serious collision where I developed a concussion. Waiting for the clearance from the doctor was agonizing because I did not want to miss any games. I paid special attention to what the doctors were doing as they were treating me as that is the career path I want for myself. I had to miss our next game, however, I was still with my team, cheering them on from the bench, helping to direct the defense and make adjustments for the goalie at halftime. I feel that my enthusiasm for the game makes me a better leader and teammate, and someone who is ready to take the next step and make an impact on the collegiate level.