- Exact Northeast ID Camp Highlights Aug 5-6 2020
Personal Statement
My name is Luke Jovanovic and I attend Regis High School in New York City. When I started playing soccer with my friends when I was seven, I instantly fell in love with the game: the passing, the flow and rhythm, the scoring and the teamwork. As I have developed my skills, I feel blessed with the opportunities that I have been given and hopefully will attain my ultimate aspiration: playing college soccer. My motto is “talent can get you far, but hard work can take you anywhere”.
I have played travel soccer for eight years now. I started with a local team called West Side Soccer League but currently I play for World Class FC. I play either as a CDM or outside back. In both positions, I pride myself on my work ethic and stamina, which allows me to move our team from defense to offense and back. I also make sure to attack and win every 50/50 ball in the air or on the ground near me. As a CDM, I focus on moving the ball from our back line to our front line either by using short passes through the midfield or long balls over the top. I also work hard off the ball to always be an option for my teammates. On the defensive side of the ball, I make sure to stop or slow the counterattack. As an outside back, I prioritize winning 1v1 defending opportunities against the wingers and blocking crosses. On the offensive side of the ball, I make sure that I am always an option for my teammates during overlapping runs.
My favorite memory of my soccer career so far was winning a quarterfinal playoff match against Xaverian this past fall. Our team had a rough season, as we struggled early and lost many winnable games. Things turned from bad to worse when our coach was fired midseason and replaced by my English teacher Mr. Gallagher, who had never coached or played soccer before. However, as co-captain of the team, I helped Mr. Gallagher learn the game and run the practices leading up to our playoff game against Xaverian. Xaverian was no pushover of a team and whopped us the last time we played them. However, we won 3-0 thanks to some brilliant defending and a fantastic counterattack that led to the score to make it 2-0. I have been playing competitive soccer since I was 8 and I have never been so happy after winning a game. As the leader of the team, it was my job to set the tone and mentality so that we could pull off the upset. Although we lost in the next round, I am extremely proud of the work that my teammates and I put in to salvage our season.
Off the field, I am committed to academic excellence, involving myself in many extracurriculars and helping those most in need in my community. As a student at Regis High School, the best Catholic high school in America according to Niche, I pride myself on my academic excellence, having a 3.8 GPA and making the honor roll my freshman year. Outside the classroom, I involve myself in many extracurricular activities which I enjoy, including Varsity Extemporaneous Speaking, writing for the sports newspaper The Falcon, and playing Violin in the Regis Band to name a few. Most importantly, as a “man for others”, a saying often used in our school, I prioritize serving those most in need in my community. During the summer, I volunteer at Camp Good Grief on the East End of Long Island, which mixes therapy and the classic camp experience for kids who have lost a close loved one. As a camp counselor for the 11 and 12-year-old age group last year, I had the privilege to listen to the childrens’ stories and hardships and hopefully provided them with a smile or laugh during this difficult time in their lives. I also volunteer for Exam Schools Partnership Initiative City Smart Scholars program (ESPI) located at the Silberman School of Service on 119th Street in Harlem, NY. The program aims to provide test prep to students from underprivileged backgrounds, especially from the black and Latino community, so that they can be admitted to one of the specialized high schools for gifted students in NYC. I work as the teacher’s assistant in the 5th grade math class. Since the program moved online to Google Classroom during the Coronavirus crisis, I have taken on the larger role of assisting teachers and students alike with IT problems, as well as continuing my work as the teacher’s assistant.
My collegiate goal is to attend a college or university that combines academic rigor and excellence with a great soccer program, where I can grow as a player and a person. I hope to use the gifts given to me on the field so that I can expand my intellect. I am an excellent candidate for your team, as I work my hardest and have the drive and determination to succeed at the next level.
