Personal Statement
**University of South Alabama signee**
Thank you for visiting my profile to learn a little bit about me. I would like to share three ideals that guide my journey as a student athlete.
While people feel that kids in my generation need instant gratification and awards for simply participating in activities, I value the results that I receive from hard work in the classroom and in my athletic pursuits. I set my sites high, practice hard, and study harder.
As a runner, I have learned that perseverance and self-sacrifice are part of training, competing, and winning. This most recent cross country season is a perfect example. Before “summer running” began, I set some goals to reach certain time standards. I put in the miles and looked forward to a great season. The season began as expected, but then I started to experience strange medical symptoms which caused great pain. Every time I went to the starting line, I knew that the unexplained pain would be excruciating. Every finish would be frustrating, knowing that I wouldn’t achieve the times I had worked so hard for. Finally, after months of doctor visits and medical tests, I received a diagnosis and a surgical solution was recommended. However, I had to choose between having the surgery immediately and costing my team a potential state championship or sacrificing my own needs for the greater good of my team. There was truly only one choice, and on November 5, 2016, we stood on the podium with the Georgia AAAAA state championship trophy. The surgery is now behind me, and I continue to persevere toward the goals that I have set and look forward to a great track season this Spring. During the first two years of my high school career, I was a starter on the varsity soccer team and my focus in the Spring sports season was on soccer rather than track. Even though I was able to be competitive as a two- sport athlete during the Spring season, I have decided to drop soccer in order to focus on running and to be able to put in the necessary track training.
Finally, it’s important for me to share that integrity and a strong moral code drive the decisions that I make. While the right thing may not be the most popular thing, I have learned to turn my back to that which is not in my best interest and to focus on the things in my life which will further my goals and those of the various organizations to which I belong.