Personal Statement
My name is Destinee Unabia, and I am a senior at Chino Hills High School. I am 18 years old, I am 4' 11", 98 lbs, and I am part of the Chino Hills varsity track and field team. I am both a sprinter and a jumper, as I have competed in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay, sprint medley, long jump and triple jump. However, my most powerful events are the triple jump and long jump. Not only am I a competitor for the track team, but was also a member of the varsity high school basketball team and currently still a member of a club team, Edge Basketball. I have played both sports since I was in the 4th grade, and have grown a strong passion for each of these throughout my athletic career. Although, I have made the decision to focus more on track and field, as I have strong beliefs that I am able to compete at the collegiate level.
I am a well-rounded student, maintaining a 3.73 GPA throughout high school and aiming for a 3.9 GPA by the end of my senior year, and participating in various extra-curricular activities. I have taken numerous honors classes and am now AP calculus AB. I have strived to keep A's and high-B's in each academic course and balance academics, extra-curricular activities, and my personal life without over-stressing or over-working my body. I am involved in 2 clubs at my school, which are Key Club and Active Catholics Everywhere Club, and I am also heavily involved in my local church, St. Paul the Apostle in Chino Hills, CA, being both a CrossTrainer and Catechetical Student Body member.
In the beginning of the 2014 season, I was competing in long jump and the 100m. But, my coach believed that I would be a great triple jumper for the team. So, I withdrew from sprints and focused mainly on my jumps. I hit my personal best marks in long jump (15'8.5") and triple jump (30'7"). However, patellar tendonitis in my left knee did not allow me to compete in the middle of my season. I was told to complete 8 weeks of Physical Therapy and be careful about what I do in sports for the remainder of the spring and summer. I went through my therapy sessions, and I will be competing this upcoming season. However, not only did I strengthen my legs and decrease the pain in my knee,but I realized that I had a great passion for helping people who need physical assistance.
Because I was able to maintain a 4.0 in my junior year of high school, I was rewarded the Sierra League All-Academic award and Sierra League Scholar Athlete award for both track and basketball. I have also received the Coaches award my sophomore and junior years for jumps and the Up-and-Comer award for sprints in track. Also, I have been given the leadership role of captain for the triple jump and long jump teams this past year. I have learned to be fair, be supportive, be honest, be firm, and be an example because of this.
After my senior year of high school, I aspire to become more independent and strong enough to handle whatever challenges life makes me face. I want to become a Doctor of Physical Therapy, because I believe I have the power to help people in need and change people's lives. I want to be able to make a difference in any way I can, and be not a role model, but an inspiration to others. Because of these dreams, I will do whatever it takes to reach these goals, no matter how hard it might be to accomplish them. I am determined, passionate, and open to overcome anything that is thrown at me.
