Jolayne Gayle '16 Recruiting Profile

Who I am today is the direct result of my strict Christian upbringing. My godly mother taught me good Christian virtues as well as the importance of excelling in school. Active involvement in all church and school activities was encouraged. I grew up hearing this verse repeated so often, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, that I started to believe it and it became a part of me. Today I embrace my mother’s teachings which have helped to mold me into the confident, ambitions and determined teenager I have become. Growing up, I have always had a keen interest in playing sports. I think this was initiated by my father who was a baseball and basketball fan. We would sit and watch the games on television while he put up with the many questions I had to ask. I was privileged to go with him to a few baseball games at the Yankee Stadium. In middle school, I played basketball and while in the 7th grade I made the softball team as an alternate. I was determined to get playing time and so I practiced hard and put in as much work as I possibly could. Hard work paid off and the next season I was one of the captains. It was difficult to be involved in both sports in High School, so I chose softball over basketball. During my first year playing on the Aquinas High School softball team, I was not privileged to start at any of the first few games and I only played a few minutes in each game. I was not satisfied and I knew I had to improve my skills so that I would be good enough to get on the starting lineup. I worked harder, practiced longer, and had an optimistic attitude. By the 5th game of the season, I was the second spot on the starting lineup and was allowed to play complete games. Through this sport I have learned that anything is possible with hard work, determination, the willingness to accept criticism, and the right mindset. It has also taught me the importance of team work and cooperation. I have learned how to keep a balance between my academics and other extra-curricular activities. In addition to being active in softball, I volunteer for ten hours each week at the Jacobi Medical Centre. I am also involved in the Einstein Enrichment STEP Program (an after-school science enrichment program) two days each week. As one of the keyboard players at my church, I attend choir rehearsals once per week. I am also actively involved with the youth group at my church and serve as secretary for the youth fellowship. My intended major is biology or sports medicine / exercise physiology. Upon graduation from college, I intend to go on to medical school where I will pursue a career in pediatric orthopedic surgery. One obstacle I have had to overcome is that of never having enough money to do certain things which are important to me. I have always wanted to be a part of a traveling team but my mother is not able to afford this, so I just go to the batting cages with friends. I consider myself very enterprising and have sold boxes of candies at school and at church in order to supplement my allowance, when I get one. Despite this obstacle, however, I have learned to be content with what I have. I think one of the best characteristics I have is my attitude towards constructive criticisms. I have a teachable spirit and I use criticisms to motivate me to work harder. When I set my mind to achieving something, I do everything to make sure it gets done. I take pride in exceeding people's expectations. I don't punish myself if my team loses a game. In every loss there is a lesson for me as to what I need to do better in the next game. I consider myself a great team player. With such an attitude to the sport, I believe I have shown a lot of improvement. I possess a pleasant personality and the ability to smile even when things are not going great. As a result, I get along well with others, and I am often a source of encouragement to many.