Dennis Jones Sharpe '24 Recruiting Profile

Greetings,

When I get to college one of my collegiate goals is to study Sports Journalism. The reason I would like to study Sports Journalism is because I like to analyze and dissect the performance and statistics of athletes in competitive sports. Personally, I enjoy watching all forms of media including listening to radio and talk shows where the analysts break down the sports that I love. Sports and Exercise Medicine is also an interest because I want to help athletes prevent injuries and improve their overall physical function in sports and in life. As an analyst or journalist, my goal is to be able to talk about sports and get my perspective and opinions heard. As a health practitioner, I want to promote therapeutic wellness to the athletic community. In 2022, my brother and I created a passion project called ABCs which stands for Anything Warm, Blankets, Coats and socks for unhoused (homeless) people. The reason why we named it ABCs is because food and shelter are fundamental and a basic human right for all people.

I am not easily discouraged. Kujichagulia, one of the principles of Ngozo Saba (Seven Principles), means self-determination and it’s my family motto. It's really a wonder I chose track as a sport because throughout my life I have faced many setbacks, such as busting my chin as a toddler and fracturing my tibia (toddler fracture) just as I was learning to walk at eleven months old. I also fell downstairs and then busted my knee on that same leg when I was twelve years old. Each time, I had to slow down and learn to walk again but I have always been able to get back up and keep moving forward. 

My own self determination and resilience is my biggest strength. I never quit even when I don’t hit the marks or times. My coach told me that he likes that I am “coachable” due to the fact that I listen and have the ability to take criticism as teachable moments to make me a better athlete. I am very respectful and mindful of the people around me and I like to encourage my teammates and be a role model to those coming after me. I love the feeling of competition because it forces me to push past my limitations. I have always stepped up to the plate especially when faced with challenging situations, especially academically. My participation on the track team has helped me to increase my GPA from 2.5 to 3.2. I want to be a member of a winning team on the track and in life. Thank you for viewing my profile.

Dennis (DJ) Jones-Sharpe