stefano varela-seri '20 Recruiting Profile

I am currently a junior in Phillipsburg High School and have played varsity soccer my freshmen year through junior year, and planning to keep playing for the rest of my high school experience. For my off-season, I played for my club team, Lehigh Valley United, for 01 Black Boys team.  I now play for a S. A.C.C.  skills program which stands for Student Athlete Coaching and Consulting. I have been playing soccer since I was six years old and have fallen in love with the sport ever since. I play center forward and always work and try my hardest to win.

Additional Questions:

Why do you want to be recruited to play sports in college?

To play a sport in a college is an honor because your representing that school and it just feels amazing to be part of that. Not only because I need scholarships to be able to attend the college I want, I just love the sport and to have passion and love for the game is the key to win not only in sports, but in life. To do something you love will influence you to be the best of the best. I want to be recruited to play sports in college because that would mean that I would be doing something that I love and desire.

Athletes are often leaders on and off the field. Please provide one example of how you have demonstrated leadership in both areas.

Being a leader doesn't mean being the best player on the field or even being captain of the team. Being a leader involves motivation, encouragement, passion, commitment, and a team player along with much more. I always try to involve all these descriptions into the field, and keep them whether we win or lose. Off the field, being a leader is someone one looks up too and is looked as a kind and sharing person who helps and encourages people to become a greater and better person. Involving oneself in activities and fundraisers showing people that you want to help and being a great role model defines a leader.

Please explain how you pursue "healthy athletic performance" as a student-athlete.

Health is the most important factor in any sport because without, well, you cant play or put out your 100% best. I am always very obsessed with being the healthiest I can be. I almost never eat fast food, and always meals involving all essential nutrients especially before practice or a game. Fruits and veggies are my main course of my meals, and try to involve some meats to promote more muscle growth. Exercising at a constant and daily routine is very important too. I try to always go to the gym at least 3 times a week not counting soccer practices. Plus being healthy for soccer practice is just as important or even more important than the actual game because practice reflects your game performance. However, being mentally healthy plays a huge role as well. being focused and concentrated to be your best on the field or for whatever your doing at that certain moment and to not think about anything else but exactly what your doing will bring your confidence and performance so much higher making you put in 100% through effort.

Please describe how you are involved in service in your community and why these efforts are important to you.

I enjoy helping people and animals relating to my community. I love involving myself in school activities including mini-thon's, school fundraisers involving the school soccer team. I used to volunteer for my local animal shelters, Common Sense for Animals, and love helping out. I am also bilingual in Spanish and used to tutor a Venezuelan girl for a short period of time who began attending our school. Overall, I love and enjoy helping people and try to impact the lives of people in a positive manner.