- 2019 Highlights
Personal Statement
Hi!
My name is Jalen Evans and I'm a Junior at The Head-Royce School in Oakland, California.
I have been swimming competitively since I was eight years old and currently swim year-round with Orinda Aquatics.
I have many distinguishing qualities that would make me an impactful contributor to your Men’s Swim Team. For one, I am a highly self-motivated person. I do not need others to force me to go to morning practice or to study hard for a test. I want to be the best me I can be, and as such, I work hard to succeed both in the classroom and in the pool. Due to this, when there is a task in front of me that I know needs to get done to achieve my goals, I have the ability to lock in and just do it. Having the will to succeed is something that I greatly attribute to my success in and out of the pool.
In addition, I have a strong work ethic. I know that the harder I work in practice, the faster I will become. As such, in training, I push myself, even through the most difficult sets.
I also welcome feedback and suggestions from my coaches. I will make it a point to try to implement my coach’s suggestions consistently throughout practice. I know, in the long run, and with consistent application, they will help me become a faster swimmer.
Furthermore, attending a very academically rigorous school, while swimming year-round, has taught me how to not only balance my academic pursuits and my love for swimming, but to excel while doing so. I consistently attend all morning and afternoon practices offered, while taking a rigorous course load and maintaining a 4.25 weighted GPA (3.84 unweighted). My success in balancing rigorous academics with swimming has prepared me to thrive at any college academically, while being a strong and valuable contributor to their Men’s Swim Team.
When I think about attending college, I would love the opportunity to swim at the collegiate level for many reasons. First, swimming is my passion. I have participated in the sport for over half of my life and I can’t imagine entering the next phase of my life without swimming being a significant part of it.
Second, swimming is great for me academically. After a long day of school, swimming provides me with a great escape from the academic world. This break from the stresses that school can sometimes bring, helps me to refocus on the academic tasks that need to get accomplished. Furthermore, the discipline that I have had to harness to improve at swimming has made me a better student, as I have carried the same discipline and determination into the classroom.
Lastly, swimming for my high school has brought me such a sense of pride and comradery with my teammates. I just love the general team atmosphere of high school swimming and how everyone cheers and supports each other because we are all striving to achieve the same goal - the team’s success. I can only imagine how this feeling would be magnified at the collegiate level and I can’t wait to experience it.
From reading this personal statement, I hope that you can see that I am a great candidate for your swimming program. I am self-motivated and very coachable. I have a strong work ethic, and I will be able to balance the academic rigor at your college, while still being an impactful member of your swim team.
My dream is to attend a college where I can pursue both my academic and athletic passions. I am excited by the potential to make this dream a reality with your help.
