- 2021 Highlights
Personal Statement
Soccer has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. It has enabled me to meet and play with kids from different communities, cultures, and ethnicities. These kids are now amongst my closest friends. Soccer also has afforded me the opportunity to travel internationally to Europe and Latin America, and have an appreciation for how the game is played and viewed in other countries.
Through soccer, I have developed life skills of hard work, discipline, grit, resilience, perseverance, and collaboration – skills that I use both on and off the field. As the kid who once was by far the smallest player on the field, soccer has taught me to fight harder and play smarter than my teammates and competitors, turn my size into an advantage, and build my physical strength. My attitude and hard work have paid off in that I have been playing at the NPL1 level for top tier teams the past several years, and was selected to my high school varsity team the first year I tried out. I have played at the highest level in both attacking midfield and fullback positions. A common theme amongst the coaches I have played for is my ability to see the field, read the attack, and use my technical skills, speed, and strength to build an attack on offense and shut down the attack on defense.
I bring the same dedication and hard work to my academic pursuits. Throughout high school, I have taken a challenging coarse load, with multiple honors and AP level classes that will prepare me for my chosen field of study in college. My goal is to play for a college that values both academics and athletics. I show up to every practice and every game with 100 percent effort, from when the clock starts until the final whistle is blown, and will bring the same spirit and determination to college.
Because of COVID-19, I have not been able to play games for a year. As a result, the video footage of games you will see is dated pre-COVID, though the technical skills video is current. During this time, however, I have continued to build my technical and game skills both through my club soccer practices and on my own. Being able to practice with my team has not only helped me stay physically active, but has been a vital lifeline to my teammates and soccer community while I’ve been in school remotely for an entire year.
