Mark Kaiser '17 Recruiting Profile

I am a 17-year-old soccer player and high school student in Hong Kong.  As a Canadian and Hong Kong national, I have been exposed to a diversity of cultures living and growing up in Hong Kong.  Studying in an international school has increased my exposure to multiple cultures even more, all of which I have been taught to appreciate.  Though Hong Kong is my home, I am excited to leave it behind to chase an opportunity to play soccer in a North American university, and possibly beyond.  I currently play left back / centre back at the highest level in my age group in Hong Kong: a city very passionate about the sport, and with a growing soccer program.  I start at left back for both the South China Athletic Association's U18 squad and the first team reserves, thriving in a more expansive role on the youth team and gaining valuable experience with the adult first team reserve squad in the reserve league.  Our U18 team won the U18 youth league this season, and the first team reserves came 4th in the table.  On top of at the club level, I also play with the Hong Kong National U17 and U19 squads, and my school varsity team.  I have been a part of the Hong Kong National Youth Team system since my freshman year, and have had a number of valuable experiences with the team.  This year, I was part of the U19 (1997's) training squad for the AFC U19 Qualifiers, and a starter at left back on the U17 team for another international tournament.  I also captained my school varsity team this year to our highest ever finish in the Hong Kong Schools Tournament, and to a first place finish in a Southeast Asian 7-a-side tournament my school participates in.  My combination of international and local experience, along with leadership opportunities and skills I have established as a captain and leader of my school team, have given me invaluable skills on and off the soccer field.

However, my higher education goals do not start and end on the playing field.  I have serious aspirations for studying a major in engineering or science in university.  Expecting to graduate in 2017, I will graduate with both the Ontario Secondary Schools Diploma and the International Baccalaureate Diploma.  Over the course of my high school career, I have completed numerous years with academic honours, and all my courses in grade 11 and 12 are honours programs in the Ontario curriculum.  I realize that university is an important step in my future, for both academic and athletic reasons, and am prepared to work for success in both areas.  I believe my appreciation for and experience in a diverse and competitive environment that I grew up in have developed me as a person, and I hope to translate this into success at the next level.