Alberto Espinosa '20 Recruiting Profile
Video
2018 Highlights2019 HighlightsPersonal Statement
I grew up without a sense of purpose. For the first thirteen years of my life, I was determined to throw my life away. I was raised in Mexico City, in a country that runs on extreme economic inequality. I was taught by my father not to trust our government, not to trust our police, and I was taught only to care for my own welfare. The only things important to me were appearance, money, social media, and being popular. Maybe for those reasons, I tried smoking and drinking for the first time at the age of thirteen.
Luckily, thirteen was also the age when I first started playing football. What started out as a hobby rapidly became its own driven purpose -- at first in the form of redemption. My shift in perspective happened on a Saturday, at a 6 a.m. practice, alongside my most inspiring teammate, Canca. We ran for two straight hours. It felt as if the air in the atmosphere was not enough to fill my lungs. I felt a sharp pain in my legs that brought me to the ground. My body gave up on me. I just wanted to lay there when suddenly, Canca came into view. He lifted me up, and as he patted me on the back, he said something I would never forget:
“Tenemos que alcanzar la perfección.”
“We have to seek perfection.”
The impact those words had on me is stronger than any language. Because of Canca, the wisest fourteen-year-old I will ever meet, I know had a motto. A new understanding of how to live my life, where I will always seek perfection.
This impact was not immediate, it took time and repetition in order to finally engrave it into my mind. I started applying this standard to all aspects of my life. My grades in school went up, I cared for my family, I made it to the all-state team twice and even got a chance to represent my country on the national team in American Football. Thanks to this new code, I was given the biggest opportunity of my life. My uncle invited me to live with him and his family in the United States. I didn’t hesitate, because, in Mexico, I knew my opportunities were limited.
Recently, after another tough Friday night loss, I returned to our locker room to find a teammate I wanted to congratulate. As I got next to him, his hands clutched into my jersey and, sobbing, he said to me: “You have no idea how much I look up to you. Playing your heart out at every play on every game, not letting me give up, makes me want to try harder, makes me try to be like you.” At that moment, I was that thirteen-year-old boy on a Saturday in a football field, looking into Canca´s eyes:
“Tenemos que alcanzar la perfección.”
Athletics
High School Information
- Years w/ Varsity
- 1 year
- Varsity Starter
- 1 year
- 2019 Varsity Team
- Starter- Jersey: #52
Coach References
- High School Head Coach
- James Wagner
- Other
- John Shirkey
Additional Sports
- Rugby
- 1 year
- Club/Travel Team
- Volleyball
- 3 years
- Varsity Team
- Captain of the Men's Volleyball team In Mexico City
Statistics
Academics
Grades
Test Scores
Academic Accomplishments
Are you in honor classes?
NoAre you in AP/IB classes?
Yes. Spanish AP Physics AP Chemistry AP All these classes I've taken/Am taking were on my own.Registered with the NCAA Eligibility Center?
NoAwards and Activities
- AwardsTed Sizer award - Demonstrated 10 common principals (Coalition of Essential Schools) throughout one's time at the school. It is voted no only by staff but also students themselves.
- ActivitiesSpecial tutoring to a student from Haiti without almost any English level, and tutoring other classmates in scholar subjects. , Part of a local project involving a few participants - Intergenerational Storytelling - Reduce the gap between emerging generations and Elders, and the unification of these two. , Volunteering in my community- Local events
Top NCSA Athletes at Summit High School
Top NCSA Athletes in Area
