- 2016 Highlights
Personal Statement
My name is Julia Mullen. I currently am a Senior at Walkersville, High School. My family recently moved from Cibolo, TX to Walkersville, Maryland this August. I am on the Track & Field team and my event is Pole Vault. I am excited to go to college and at the same time continue to participate in the sport I love.
I am the youngest of three children; I have two older sisters. We grew up as military dependents as my father is in the US Air Force. I enjoyed various sports growing up to include soccer, basketball, gymnastics, cross-country, and swimming. I became involved with pole vaulting while in the eighth grade and progressively it became my favorite sport. When I was a freshman I set my high school pole vault record of ten feet. I am hoping to top that height over the next two seasons.
With my high school graduation looming closer, I am looking at attending college. I want to study nutritional medicine and/or physical training. While earning a degree, I would love to continue pole vaulting.
I believe my experiences of moving around the world via the US military have shaped me. It has broadened my mind toward different types of cultures and, more importantly, has helped me experience differences among people. With this in mind, I believe I adapt well to new environments and adjust to various types of people. This trait will serve me well while in college.
In regard to being on a team and being a difference maker, I am certain I will thrive. Despite having a learning disability, I learned to work hard and to focus. I strive for perfection and work so hard to get better at my sport. I have had my struggles and have lost confidence at times but I tend to revert back to the basics and seek advice from my coaches and teammates to get through any obstacles I may face. I am very much a coachable athlete. I know when to be a leader and when to be a follower, and I try to lead by example. With pole vaulting, one is on their own yet a team helps each other & encourages each other. I appreciate that about pole vaulters. We have to perform individually but we support each other; collectively building each other up.
I truly believe that my experience with various people & cultures by being a military dependent, my perseverance with academics & athletics while battling learning disabilities, and my passion to do well with academics & athletics makes me a tremendous asset for the college I attend.
To sum it all up, sports can be exhilarating & frustrating, especially pole vaulting. Still, I love it just the same and I hope to continue participating in it for a long time. My goal is to earn a college degree while representing my college proudly as a successful member of the Track & Field team.
Julia Mullen
Senior – Walkersville High School-Walkersville, MD
Pole Vaulter
