Eamon Smart, Jr '14 Recruiting Profile

As the son of British and Jamaican parents, I am constantly reminded of how important education is. In my home it was all about academics.  On Saturday mornings, I would pass by the football field and see the excitement in the crowd, so in my 8th grade year I decided to try out for Pop-Warner football.  The coaches were impressed and I became apart of the team.  I expressed my interest to my parents, and they agreed, but on one condition.  “We will allow you to play as long as it doesn’t affect your grades.”  My parents knew that it would be a big challenge and didn’t want anything to interfere with my academics or my dream of becoming an Anesthesiologist‎.
I began playing and loved it.  I continued to play football for my high school, and became increasingly fascinated by sports, and before I knew it, I was chosen to be the Captain of our Varsity football team as well as the Senior Homecoming King.

I realize how much I have matured during my last years of high school, not only physically, but academically, mentally and spiritually.  Being the captain of our varsity football has taught me discipline through team building, exercising, academics and good dieting.  I have learned to lead by example on and off the field and this has bolstered my work ethics, sense of perseverance and integrity.

Football has given me a love of life; through football I have gained experience, diversified my interest, overcome adversity and learned the meanings of sacrifice, success, failure and pain.  Playing football has taught me how to succeed.  Success is achieved through hard work and working with others.  The self-confidence I have gained is amazing; no matter what happens I will never give up, and try even harder.

I know I would be an asset to any team on and off the field due to my hard work, ethics, discipline, perseverance and integrity, “Failure is not an option if success is just a matter of trying harder”.