Personal Statement
It’s Friday night… for the first time in the 2021 season and my senior year, I step out on the field to kick a field goal… the lights blaze, the ball is snapped, and the crowd roars as it sails through the uprights. After a challenging last year and a half, I took a moment to simply appreciate that I was healthy and had an opportunity to be a part of this amazing team playing in front of our shouting, excited family and friends.
COVID-19, the Coronavirus, a Pandemic, “Wear a mask,” Quarantine... these are words with which we are now painfully familiar and likely would prefer to never hear again. Along with the rest of the world, COVID provided me an involuntary and unwelcome break from daily life. When this all started, this virus, invisible to the human eye but more powerful than any force we have witnessed in my lifetime, shoved us back into our homes where we were locked away from school, teachers, sports, coaches, family and friends. The first few weeks were not so bad, it almost seemed to be a mini vacation from the rigors of everyday life as we knew it. For a brief period, the unexpected ability to do nothing was novel and, dare I say, enjoyable, but it soon became tedious, boring and even anxiety provoking. But then I discovered that this time could be a gift. Kicking is a solo activity, the fields were empty, and I had all the time in the world. During those countless hours I put in, I came to understand just how much I wanted to take this talent, develop it and progress on to the next level.
So what does that mean to me? My wish list for my college experience includes: Kicking (ideally as a starter) for all four years, succeeding academically and graduating with a degree that lends itself to a successful job in sports marketing. And of course, to have a little fun in the process. As NFL legend Buddy Ryan said, "Football kickers are like taxi cabs… You can always go out and hire another one." So why does your team need me? I maintain a positive attitude even in the most challenging conditions and strive to be an excellent teammate. I feel at home out on the field kicking a football and do so every chance I get. I am coachable and driven by the reward of witnessing self-improvement. I have a solid work ethic as well as a strong ability to prioritize, and I understand the importance of staying healthy and putting in the extra practice when needed.
On the whole, COVID and everything the world went through this past year was terrible and oftentimes tragic, but there is always an opportunity to take some good from even the most dire circumstances. Putting people in dark places gives them a chance to shine. I took advantage of these unprecedented circumstances to better myself using the unanticipated free time set before me due to COVID and the seemingly endless quarantine. I now truly believe that dedication, practice and mental attitude totally changes the game. This is a lesson that undoubtedly will remain with me through my college years and beyond. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I hope you have a spot on your team for a hard worker who took a moment to find himself!
