Jonathan Garcia '16 Recruiting Profile

Hello, my name is Jonathan Garcia. I am a student at Irvine High School. My main goal in life is to change people’s lives, whether it is on the football field or off, this is why I plan to major in applied exercise science. I have played football for 6 years, and enjoyed every minute of it. Football has been my passion for many years. In 8th grade, I began playing tackle football and can not imagine not playing football in college. My Senior Year will be my third year on the Varsity Football Team. In high school, I have learned a lot of things but mostly I have learned what it means to be brothers and family from football. My coaches have really inspired me and taught me that as long as you work hard and don't quit, you can’t ever lose. Two coaches that have really invested in me are, our Strength and Conditioning Coach, Nate Jeffries and our Head Coach, Erik Terry. They have both taught me to work hard and no matter what size you are, you can do anything. One of the quotes that they taught me is, “Bet against me”, which really sunk in because I am not the biggest player on the field. At Irvine High we have a motto, “Teammates for Life”. This slogan has shown me that you can play for one another and that you are one unit, one team and the only way to win is to perform as one team. My favorite feeling on the football field is when my teammates score or make a play and I know that we all worked together and got the job done together.  When our team walks out on the field, I hear the crowd, see the stands full and I know that everyone came out to see us perform and cheer for us, which just gives me a rush.

My experience on the football field has inspired my values and goal to have a career in physical training. I value respect, loyalty and perseverance. I treat everyone I meet with respect because I believe you should not judge people by what you hear and what is said about that person. I believe that loyalty makes organizations successful, such as, I trust my teammates to workout in the offseason and come to meetings and have a presence in the program. Perseverance is a value I believe everyone should have because without hard work there is no way to live your life to the fullest. I persevere for football by sticking to my nutritional and weight plan even when the results I desire come slowly. In the classroom with school, I persevere and pass the class even if it is hard and I have been challenged academically. I have had to persevere through most of my life because I was born prematurely and have worked to overcome learning challenges. I am dedicated to working hard in my academics. 

I consider myself a natural athlete. I have been involved in sports since I was four years old. I am able to quickly pick up a new sport. A few valuable qualities I have are my enthusiasm and leadership skills with my team. My coaches comment that I lead others by being a good example with my work ethic. Although I am known for being quiet off the field, I am a totally different person on the field. I am determined to stay positive and bring my teammates up when they are down.  

I look forward to playing football at the next level because I know I will be a valuable teammate and asset to the team. I am grateful for what football has taught me through the years.