Personal Statement
I would like to introduce myself to you by way of my life principles and core virtues, as they are truly the fabric of how I live my life.
People would describe me as someone who is genuine and compassionate, while also tough, driven, resilient and fierce. I prioritize these virtues through healthy relationships with my friends and family and navigating the difficult choices people of my age need to make every day. I strongly feel these choices, and my individual contribution to my community, are truly having a positive influence on the world. Living a proud, happy, and productive life with no regrets is my demonstration of leadership to my community in both Colorado and now in England. The following key virtues and principles reflect this:
Inner Strength & Drive:
One of the biggest challenges I have ever faced in my life, was moving away from my family to chase my dream of becoming a professional soccer player, at the mere age of 16. The opportunity to take my soccer career overseas presented itself and was decided upon in less than one month’s time! It was the craziest most spontaneous thing my family has ever done. In addition to leaving my family, I had to dig extremely deep to work to recover from a serious three-month duration injury prior to departing for the United Kingdom.
Resilience & Personal Growth:
My ability to demonstrate leadership both on and off the soccer field has played an instrumental role in my debut with a semi-professional football (soccer) club in the United Kingdom. I am proud to share I have been pursuing my personal and athletic development for the last two years playing for Bracknell Town Football Club in England. While I’ve always thought of myself as a role model representing hard work and character, making the leap to play football overseas at the age of 16, has really tested my inner strength, especially off the pitch (field). Transitioning to living with 18 to 22-year-old teammates has been a true, deep test of the essence of who I am. On top of the new, challenging environment, I have been entirely responsible for my remote high school education the past two years. My coaches and the Chairman of Bracknell Town F.C. have expressed, on numerous occasions, they view me as a leader and role model who demonstrates and lives genuine hard work in an environment focused on developing potential professional athletes. I am humbled and honored by this extreme compliment which is immensely powerful to me.
Determination and willpower:
My time living in the UK has been the biggest willpower test I’ve ever experienced (due to tiny living conditions, being so far from home, and living with people so much older than I). This sudden change in my life, required incredible determination focusing on my dedication to the club and sport I so fiercely love. I have been forced to grow immensely as a person and an athlete, in a dramatically challenging environment and social setting. I am proud to say I have made it by learning that my response to my environment will determine my success or failure and happiness in life - in turn, my future. This is a powerful lesson and a principle I’ve been able to take into all aspects of my life, including my academics. I have learned my attitude and response to challenges have a direct impact on my grades impacting my future educational opportunities, as well.
Indomitable Spirit & Empathy:
When I reflect on my life journey to this point, I genuinely believe I possess a special talent of being a ‘difference maker’ in any situation in life. I do this through my inherent character of immense empathy coupled with indomitable spirit. This has been a part of me since my early years, showcasing itself when I was just four years old. A great representation of this was my dedicated 8-year journey pursuing mastery with Tae Kwon Do. The accomplishment becoming a Certified First Degree Blackbelt at the age of just 13. One of the main principles lived by people dedicated to martial arts, especially at the studio I trained, is living with a spirit that is indomitable. I took a lot away from that enduring, challenging and ultimately incredibly rewarding journey. The fight inside me has made all the difference in my entire life: academics, athletics, and with anything I have passion. I tenaciously continue my pursuit of perfecting this drive and resilience of spirit, as I grow and place myself in harder and more challenging life situations. This spirit resides at the core of who I am fueling me forward to all my goals in life.
Service & Community:
Giving back has been has always been an important part of my life, especially in my areas of passion. I have volunteered an entire summer as Assistant Coach with Vail Valley Soccer Club. This was immensely rewarding helping coach kids leveraging my experience with the sport I love. I have also volunteered my time at Bracknell Town F.C. on game days (selling tickets, hosting and greeting guests, etc.). I have felt compelled, and thankful, to be able to give back to my club for giving me the chance to live out my dreams.
Before soccer was my life’s main passion, I volunteered as a Counselor-In-Training at my local recreation center for an entire summer. In addition, I was honored to be a volunteer instructor/assistant through my time practicing Tae Kwon Do. Woven through the fabric of my life, I have chosen to always give back to the people and places that have helped me develop as a person. I strive to impart wisdom and life lessons in these environments, as I’m fortunate enough to understand my lessons to this point, and desire sharing them as a means of helping and giving back to my immediate community. It is not lost on me, what an outstanding life I’ve chosen and been able to live to this point; therefore, I truly enjoy every opportunity to give back to my community, wherever I am in the world!
