Sarah Pattillo '22 Recruiting Profile

   Cool uniforms.  That’s how this all started.  A 9 year old little girl looked out of the car window and saw children playing a soccer game.  She told her mom that she thought the uniforms looked cool.  I was that little girl and that day changed my life.  I could never have imagined that I would come to love this game so much or that being a goalkeeper would become part of my identity and my true passion.

     I am a tall girl.  I am cursed...I mean lucky to have a tall mother….so being tall has always seemed relatively normal to me.  That is…until I entered my teen years and I realized just how tall I was compared to others my age.  Inevitably, kids started to notice that I was different…and some would tease me.  My mother, who always seemed so proud of her height, tried to teach me to be proud too.  Not an easy feat at that age, when the goal really is to just fit in.  Soon, however, coaches started to say things to me like “you won the genetic lottery kid!” and would refer to my “tall privilege.”   I began to realize that more often than not, when someone was talking about my height anymore, it was in a positive manner.  Okay, I began to think maybe this tall thing was pretty cool after all! I began to gain more confidence in myself and my abilities.  Self-doubt would sometimes try to creep in, but I always fought back.  I pushed myself, trained relentlessly and played in as many games as I could.  I was confident.  I was proud.  And in between all of that….I realized that I had become an elite goalkeeper. 

     The truth is, I don’t mind being different and standing out.  Whether it’s my height, the fact that I wear a different colored jersey, or my indelibly positive attitude (that I was lucky enough to be born with).....I seem to stand out.  I have emerged a leader…both on and off the field.  I am extremely optimistic and am known to be a friend to all.  I follow a strict moral compass and have proven to be strong in character.  I value integrity and always strive to do the right thing.

     I desire excellence, both in the classroom and on the field.  I have been told multiple times that I am very “coachable.”  I take criticism well and immediately apply the instruction to help improve my game.  I train hard, always giving 100%.  Always!  I have a relentless desire to become the best goalkeeper that I can be….knowing there is always more to learn, improvements to be made and growth to be had.  I believe that I have a responsibility to myself, my team and my coaches every time I take the field.  I do not take that responsibility lightly.  I am committed and determined to continue to grow and excel so that I can help my team succeed.   

     I have proven myself to be strong in the face of adversity, braver than I ever imagined and a natural leader.  I am calm under pressure and don’t allow failures (or goals scored) to change my mission.  I have a strong growth mindset, and am hoping to find a program/coaches with the same.  I will work hard for you and I am confident that I will be a stellar ambassador for both your school and your soccer program.  I look forward to it!  Oh, and I will definitely look cool in the uniform! :-)