Dear coaches,
I am Cooper Parham, I am a rising senior at Ruamrudee International School in Bangkok, Thailand.
I am looking for a school that allows me to continue to develop and grow my leadership skills in a learning environment that is diverse and challenging.
When I was two years old my parents moved overseas for work and I have spent my life living in Bolivia, China, and now Thailand. Growing up overseas is a big part of my identity and has given me the chance to pursue a wide range of athletics. From table tennis to water polo to my passion of playing basketball I have been able to develop a larger sense of different cultures and lifestyles which has helped me to become the person I am today – a leader who is open-minded, perceptive, and collaborative.
Living overseas has provided me the opportunity to be a part of teams with teammates from India, China, Thailand, Korea, Mexico, and France, just to name a few. This has given me a broader view of the world, as well as how to work together to overcome obstacles. Some of these obstacles include basic things like injury and time management, but also more uncommon issues like navigating traveling to various countries around Asia and supporting my teammate's traditions and culture even though they are often vastly different than mine.
I have learned many lessons from playing sports in several countries, I have learned to never underestimate an opponent regardless of their size or appearance, I know the value of honoring different beliefs, and the importance to lead by example through hard work and dedication on the court.
Playing basketball overseas and in the United States during the summer have helped me to develop one particular goal, not only to help me become a better basketball player but a better student as well. That goal is to approach each situation, either academically or athletically, by visualizing the outcome I seek to achieve and then working to make it a reality. This goal has served me well and will continue throughout my life.
