John Puka '22 Recruiting Profile

Running was never really my primary sport until the beginning of my sophomore year in high school. Prior to this, I channeled my energy through playing countless hours in club soccer and other sports. When my middle school required all students to run a mile time trial, I was surprised with my ability to endure such a long distance run back then that I ended up running the fastest time in my class. My passion to always get faster and go for the win has since then been my source of pride and confidence in sports and unto my daily life. So when I entered high school, I decided to take on the sport of cross country and track. Despite the two being an entirely new sport to me, I was thrilled and excited with my times for that season that I decided to drop my lifelong dedication for soccer to focus on running.

Running has since then taught me a few valuable lessons in sports and in my daily life. For one, the sport requires me to be disciplined if I ever want to get faster in running or do better in academics. I have to mentally prepare myself to train every day during the season and persistently push myself in the sport and in school. Patience and determination were also a key role to my achievements. I enjoy the accomplishments I have with me, but I always have the urge to achieve more and run faster. Looking back, my long term effort has brought me success and lessons to carry along to this day and unto college and beyond.