Personal Statement
Hello. My personal statement follows my opening editorial note. Thank you!
Editorial note (7/14/21): I transferred from Chatham High School (NJ) to Fountain Valley School of Colorado for the 2020-2021 academic year. I loved my time at CHS, but wanted to elevate my hockey development to a more intensive, year round program. My parents and me asked for permission for me to enter as a "repeat sophomore"--my parents did not want me entering my 1st year of boarding school as a junior (with college right around the corner; and I was relatively young for my peer group). I continued on to FVS even though FVS cancelled its 2020-21 (2 season program) hockey season due to Covid. FVS is on 1400 acres, and the school's priority was to keep the students in the classroom. There were no games, but we skated 2x weekly all year. I loved FVS and was very happy with my decision to attend. And then the hockey team received in early November the very unexpected news the hockey program was to be cancelled. My teammates and I were gutted. The reason was the school could not commit to a full hockey season (back in November) and so in good faith believed it could not recruit to refill the roster, having lost a good number of seniors and juniors the prior year. FVS offered to support us playing for CO Springs AAA Tigers during our remaining time at FVS; the FVS Administration (coaches/teachers/staff) also actively supported me in transferring to other hockey boarding school. As much as I wanted to remain at FVS, I wanted the experience of playing for my high school, and so I opted to transfer. Cushing was my top pick; and I was very fortunate and excited to wear the purple sweater of Cushing, where I played both hockey and lacrosse. Last spring I made the very hard decsion to bypass my senior year of "regular" high school to play juniors. I loved Cushing; but in assessing my progress I determined the best avenue for me to up my game was to play with and against older/bigger/stronger/faster players. For my senior year, I enrolled in K12 Academy, an accredited all-virtual school, which allowed me to train full time during the day. So, thanks in large part to Covid, I've now been with 4 hockey programs and 4 high school programs in 4 years.
I am an offensive defenseman who is strong in any situation that I'm put in the game, whether it's the power play or the penalty kill. And I've always had good gap, ever since I started playing hockey at an early age. I like to skate the puck, pass the puck to my teammates, or take shots from the blue line. I love to work hard in my games and practices on ice and off ice. I have a drive and passion for the game of hockey.
In college I would like to be able to manage my time with schoolwork and hockey, and to have fun while living the college experience. Playing hockey would allow me to continue my love for the game, stay active, and to be challenged physically and mentally. In college I would also like to gain even greater joy and fulfillment from being committed in the things you love to do, working to success, and to bonding with my teammates with unity and purpose.
I am an unselfish player. I try to look out for my teammates and be positive and not negative with my teammates. My hockey coaches rate me as one of their hardest working players and most coachable on the team. I'm more of a playmaker, and I see the ice well and have a good sense of where the play is going. That's why my coaches tell me I'm a smart player and I'm able to make decisions players wouldn't think of doing when they get into a tough situation on the ice.
I think I'm different because I am naturally curious and a quick learner. When coach tells the team a play or a drill in practice or a game, I usually only need to be told or shown once. I always seek to improve on my mistakes that I make in a game or practice, try to prevent that mistake from happening again. And I study NHL game highlights nonstop, not just watch but study. This is something I've been doing since I started playing 8 years ago.
I've been through several difficult life challenges. In each instance, I've worked through and overcome adversity. I believe the strength and insight I've gained from these events has enabled me to be a more committed player on the ice, curious student in the classroom, and a companion to my friends and citizens.