Isaiah Sandoval '26 Recruiting Profile

I come from a working class family that prides itself on hard work and good deeds.  It is no secret that there are two ways to perceive things: the glass half full or the glass half empty.  Due to the challenges that I have encountered coming from a poor and working class immigrant family, the only way is to see the positive in life.  Thanks to the resiliency of my parents, I am inspired to pursue excellence in all of my endeavors.  I have been playing sports all of my life and my economic constraints did not hold me back, rather they gave me the diligence to look for scholarships and registration wavers in order to participate in the best soccer and baseball leagues in my county.  Since three years old, I have played both indoor and outdoor soccer teams and have been on baseball teams for over ten years. My parents have sacrificed all these years by going to games on weekends and week nights even when they had to go to work at five in the morning or after working a double shift.  They raised money for me to go to out-of-state tournaments, coordinated with other parents to help transport me when they could not get out of work or when our vehicle broke down, and negotiated with coaches and leagues on helping with resources for uniforms and various costs.  My parents never made me feel less than my affluent and privileged teammates.  This is the story of how I got to where I am now and why positivity and hard work always wins no matter what sport you play or how much money and resources you have.

Besides looking at the glass half full, not using you time wisely results in missed opportunities for growth.  I am a versatile person with academics, athletics, and service-orientation at the forefront. My high school career has been a platform to express these attributes. I have a 3.6 GPA and have engaged in a series of honors and Advance Placement (AP) courses along with receiving academic excellence awards.  I have been on the varsity soccer team as the goalie since ninth grade and the second base player for the baseball  team since ninth grade and have received an all-conference honorable mention award.  In addition, I volunteer at a small alternative charter school for disenfranchised youth by tutoring in math and language arts two to three days a week after school.  I also help coach their soccer team, participate in school beautification projects, and assist in teacher/parent conferences by translating for Spanish speaking parents.  In my spare time, I work in construction with my dad to help ease the family expenses.  Time management is important because I get to do the things that most matter to me.  I am preparing for college, getting stronger with my physical coordination and team work, and most importantly, I am helping other kids like myself grow and be better people. 

I live today in preparation for tomorrow and tomorrow looks bright.  College is the ultimate goal as I want to major in history and eventually get a graduate degree in museum studies.  My dream is to work for the Smithsonian Institution as a museum coordinator or education specialist.  Sports will always be a part of my life; therefore, I look forward to playing on a soccer collegiate team and eventually, playing professionally or coaching.  Finally, my urge to serve youth is overwhelming as I want to start a non-profit organization that will focus on increasing the access to museums for marginalized populations and teach youngsters how to design and implement traveling exhibits that express their passions and interests.  

Through positivity, astute time management, and with the future in mind, I will be a leader, honor my family, and create results that reflect my efforts.  In essence, I have an unwavering desire for success and an impenetrable moral fiber that will guide me as I reach great heights both in the classroom and on the pitch.   These aspirations will come with the help and acknowledgement of others and I will rely on my values and hard work to make everyone proud and exceed expectations.