- 2019 Highlights
Personal Statement
I love field hockey and I’ve been dreaming about playing field hockey in college since middle school. I know that the thought of playing on a college team is a big goal but I’ve learned that pursuing big goals can bring the most rewarding experiences. I love team sports and the bonds that get created with coaches and teammates, the lasting memories of competing together, the process of becoming a true team and the environment that challenges each member to contribute in their own way and make everyone the best players they can be. I’m not ready for this experience to end – I want more time to develop as a goalie, a teammate, and leader and I want more opportunities to contribute on the practice field and in games. I relish the challenges of training and practice and the opportunities to rise to the occasion during games and I want to do it at the collegiate level.
I was introduced to field hockey in grade school by our nanny who played at UConn. Prior to that, I was a soccer and softball athlete and a full-time dancer. I immediately loved the game and began visiting clinics held by a Dutch club team in New Jersey. When I moved to Maryland I began playing for my middle school team at Roland Park Country School and also joined the year-round club team the Baltimore Stix. I wasn’t always a goalie. Initially, I was a forward because I’m quick, had a nose for the ball and a strong shot (not surprisingly, I was a striker when I played soccer). Four years ago, near the end of a Spring season with the Stix, we found ourselves at a tournament and without a goalie. I volunteered to play goalie for the team and promptly fell in love with the position. I love the thrill of having the opposing team sprinting towards my goal, players barreling towards me and deciding in a split-second what skill to execute to make an effective save. While I never thought I would be a goalie I can say now that I can’t imagine doing anything else.
Over the past few years, I’ve begun focusing my time on field hockey more and more. I previously played softball at my middle school and was a starting varsity outfielder as a freshman however this year I stopped playing spring sports at school to focus on academics and training for field hockey. I loved my time as a softball player, having played since I was six years old, and I know that those years hitting and fielding helped develop the eye-hand coordination I now use as a goalie. I also recently ended a 13-year dancing career that included competitive dance team performances and training in ballet, tap, contemporary, lyrical, pointe, jazz, modern, and a touch of hip hop. Through my dance training, I have developed agile feet, core strength and balance and the flexibility needed to execute advanced skills. I continue to travel to New Jersey every summer to participate in a week-long goalie camp at DTS Field Hockey and participate in as many local goalie clinics as I can.
I bring an enthusiastic fun-loving demeanor to the teams I play on. I am a hard worker who approaches challenges head-on with a strong determination. I am a strong communicator, comfortable taking the lead when needed and sharing my opinion in an honest and open way. I don’t shy away from a challenge. Perhaps this is because I had to face an emerging dyslexia that started in second grade. I struggled with academics throughout grade school and middle school, spending time in after-school programs to develop my processing skills and working on strategies to improve my reading comprehension and my writing skills. I understand that I must work harder than others to be successful but I am ok with that fact. My hard work is paying off as I had my best semester ever at school this past Spring. I bring these experiences to the teams I play on and I know that sharing my intensity, my work ethic, my joy and my love for the sport will make my teammates better.
I’m looking to attend and play at a medium to large college and major in Business with a minor in English and writing (may be hard to believe but the material that gave me the most challenge in school is now my strongest subject). I am not set on any specific geography because I don’t want to limit my chance to play. Most important to me is the “fit”. I want to be at a school that feels right and play for a coach that drives players to be their best both as individuals and as a team. I am committed to this journey and look forward to the challenges and rewards of being a collegiate student-athlete and being a strong contributor to my team.
