Elijah Beverley '21 Recruiting Profile

In 2018,  I was voted JV  Offensive Player of the year by my teammates for scoring 46 goals and leading the team to a 22-0-1 record.  Sophomore year,  I was the only sophomore pulled up to play varsity.  My head coach Paul Rose stated that he expected me to make an immediate impact with my explosive speed, size, strength,  footwork, versatility, and IQ of the game.  All of these various tangibles are what make it difficult for defenders to defend especially around the box.  What my coach didn’t anticipate my Sophomore year was how well I passed the ball.  Being double footed made me a threat on either side of the field.  During my Sophomore and Junior years, I led my team to win two San Joaquin  Section titles and two appearances in the  NorCal Finals Championship game. In the combined seasons, I finished with 34 goals and 18 assists and finished with a combined 50 - 5 - 4 record.

I have been recognized for my leadership both on and off the field. Last year I was selected by my school to attend a two-day Leadership Conference. The impact Hugh O-Brian Youth Leadership Organization (HOBY) made on my life last summer inspired me into becoming a Junior Ambassador this summer. I  have completed  60 of my 100  service hours required for this HOBY Leadership Position.  I have volunteered with a number of agencies but serving and preparing food to the homeless at Loaves and Fishes has impacted my life the most.  It has opened my eyes to how misleading the media can be and how society can dehumanize this population of people.  Despite their overwhelming struggles, they come in with a smile and express how much they value the brief interactions with me.   Even though most don’t know where their next meal will come from or have a humane conversation with a stranger.

I am also a member of Black Achievers Creating Change Organization (BACC) working with professionals in the engineering and medical field who mentor young African American men and women to be change-makers.  I am currently working on a group project that will bring light to the homelessness in our community and tear down the preconceived notions about homeless people, which will hopefully inspire those more fortunate to help uplift those in need.

I have learned that in life you must trust the process.  I know everything in life isn’t going to go my way, but I must persevere through challenges because adversity builds strong character which will build me into the strong young man I am becoming.  I am very confident I will maintain the 4.11 GPA that I earned the first semester despite the challenges of distance learning.   I look forward to attending a college that will continue to develop me as a soccer player while growing me as a young man.  My ultimate goal is to earn a college degree and be able to give back to society.

Poetry, family, and struggles have had an impact on my life, each one has opened and closed doors in my life, teaching me lessons that I carry with me each day. Building strong relationships is important to me because it creates a sense of trust and helps friendships flourish. Poetry is one of my passions because it allows me to express myself without judgment.  I like to write about impactful topics in the world that others shy away from.