Benjamin Burrows '23 Recruiting Profile

     Living in India I discovered my passion for soccer after watching the high schoolers playing on our campus in New Delhi. I told my mom that I wanted to play soccer and she signed me up for a youth league where I played for 7 years.  Each year my passion grew as the youth league expanded and I strived to get better. In 2016, my mom, a single parent, moved us to Singapore where I had to leave the comfort of my old team and coaches and play in a new atmosphere where I had to step up my game with unfamiliar players.  I played very well and was excited to be a part of this new club.  The teams were announced and I realized I was placed on the "B" team. I was disappointed and honestly, wanted to give up. For me, it was heartbreaking moving to a new country,  new school, new friends and now a club that didn't seem to understand me as a person and a player. I had to dig down deep, embrace my disappoint and get to work.

    Ian Bennett, a player for the Milwaukee Wave arena team, was influential in my fight to not give up. He and I talked about my struggles and how he overcame his challenges. The main thing I took from our conversations was to show my skills and passion on the pitch and to let my game do the talking.  He told me to follow his motto, "Inspire Greatness" which I try to do each and every day. 

    For the past two years, I have been fighting for my place on the "A" team; proving not only to myself, but also to my coaches and teammates that I am a player that can lead the team, support them with a positive attitude and give everything I can on the pitch. As the new team captain of the "A" team, I pride myself on encouraging my teammates and have become a true leader. I have learned that my talent on the pitch is only one aspect of the game, it is my integrity as a teammate that plays the most important role in our success.

        Now that I am in high school, I know that I will have to maintain my grades and stay on top of my studies while also playing soccer and baseball. I am excited for what high school has to offer both academically and athletically.