Clair Causey '22 Recruiting Profile

I began pole vaulting for my high school team my freshman year. At the beginning, you can say it wasn't the prettiest. My first three meets I didn't make a single bar, and the rest of the season, there were many more stories just like that one. The summer after freshman year, I joined Memphis Vault Club. I expected to raise my PR and to get better, but I found so much more. I found a family, the willingness to work hard, determination, and most importantly, how to be a human. Once I surrounded myself in the great atmosphere that was created, I learned I had so much potential. I began to grow rapidly. As my spirit went up, my run went back. As my stamina increased, my grip increased. As the weight on my barbell went up, I went up poles. Most importantly, when I became a human, my bar height went up. I quickly learned what hard work was through physical activity, motivation, and my drive to be the best version of myself. Through pole vault, I have had so many eye-opening experiences where I realized I can be better and I am just not working hard enough for it. I do pole vault because of my love for the sport. If I never started to pole vault, I would never have dreamt of being at the level I am now, not even close. I know how to work hard and play harder, good thing pole vault is both of those things.

In school and pole vault, I believe the best thing you can do for someone is care for them. Being unnecessarily kind to people is exactly what it sounds like, unnecessary. Though, does it hurt anyone? Are there any ill effects for just being kind and treating someone with respect and generosity? Being nice is an unnecessary action, though I think it is 100% worth a smile on someone's face. In school, I joined the Freshman Mentor Program because of this.  The Freshman Mentor Program is where a group of highly viewed juniors and seniors apply for the chance to be selected as a mentor. In the class, the mentors lead a group of freshman to teach them about high school, college, and mostly importantly kindness and compassion. In the entire program, I am the youngest student to be a mentor and I have shown that makes me no different from the other mentors. I've built friendship with all my freshmen and some great lasting memories as well. In school, I currently have a GPA of 3.35, and I have been in several honors classes throughout the years. I lead Collierville High School in pole vaulting by currently holding the school record with a jump of 11'2".  I help coach the school's pole vault team whenever I can help, and from this, my leadership skills have increased. I work hard to put these same leadership skills into my club team as well. I am fully capable of helping others while also helping myself get better. During practice, I could be resting up from a jump and someone may ask me to correct their vault. I correct what needs to be fixed for them, then correct my own jump.

I feel like I still have untapped potential to improve and better myself in multiple ways, both on the field and off. I plan on working my hardest throughout my college years to prove this to myself and to others. Until then, I will be pushing myself to the limit to achieve my goals.