Noah Abji '22 Recruiting Profile

I am a Natick High School student, graduating in 2022 who is looking for a college that would both challenge me academically and allow me to push my athletic ability to the highest level possible. I challenge myself academically by taking AP classes in the fields that interest me. I took AP Physics 1 in my freshman year, AP US Government & Politics and AP World History - Modern in my sophomore year. This year, I am taking AP Chemistry, AP US History and AP English Language and Composition.  In my senior year, I am planning on taking AP Physics C, AP Statistics, AP French, AP Computer Science A, and AP BC Calculus.  All the classes I am choosing to take fit my personality as a student– someone who generally enjoys all of the subjects and likes high level classes that challenge me which is reflected in my GPA. 

I first started to compete in Track and Field in 8th grade when I picked up the high jump, as I have always had an affinity for jumping. In ninth grade, however, given the wider range of events to choose from than in middle school, I also started to triple jump and pole vault. Those are now my two main events, which I practice regularly throughout the summer through my membership in the Patriot Pole Vault Club, and with the resources at my high school’s Track and Field. When unable to vault/jump outside due to cold/snowy weather, I practice drills inside to keep in shape and prepare for the next outdoor season.

Although COVID made it more difficult to continue both keeping up with school and Track and Field, I dedicated as much time as I could to preparing for when I was able to practice again, and pushed myself to study at home independently to keep up with the rigor of the courses since teaching time has been decreased. I first took the SAT in August 2020, but plan to take a second test in June, 2021. My ACT is scheduled to be taken in July 2021. During quarantine, I completed workouts suggested by my coach, even including bar drills at my local elementary school, or bike rides to keep in shape. When vaulting started again in July 2020 through my club team, Patriot Pole Vault Coach Douglas Lang, I concentrated heavily on quality of my practice rather than quantity–focusing on exactly what I needed to fix instead of mindlessly vaulting. I set very specific goals for myself, and was not content until I accomplished those goals repeatedly at each practice. I was able to significantly improve and lengthen my approach to the vault box, bring more speed into each vault, and invert further. This allowed me to improve my PB by nearly 2 feet, and even vault higher than the current Natick High School men’s pole vault record. I am thankful to my Natick High School coach, Nathaniel Bogan, for his guidance and support. Currently, my PB is 13' (October 23, 2020 Patriot Pole Vault Practice)and my official PR is 12'1" (September 26, 2021 Patriot Pole Vault Vaultarama). 

In addition to Track and Field, I compete in Congressional Debate, and am the Vice President of the Natick Speech and Debate Team. I have qualified for National level tournaments since Freshman year. I have participated in FTC robotics since my freshman year. The last two years, I was on an FTC team, #14875 LightSpeed, that advanced to the FIRST World Championships in my freshman year and last year lost at the MA States Championship in finals during my sophomore year. This year, I am programming for an FTC team, #9867 Evolution Robotics. I taught myself Java over quarantine to be prepared for the 2020 - 2021 season along with programming odometry (use of data from motion sensors to estimate change in position over time of a robot and tracking movement) and participate in A Cappella.

I have a passion for the STEM field and have created YouTube videos of Middle school math team lessons based on a book by Dr. Glenn Ellison. I created 38 lessons to help school and students participating in the Intermediate Math League of Eastern Massachusetts. I have received much positive feedback from educators about the lessons that I have created.

The activities in which I participate are very widespread, I continue to practice and participate in each with 100% effort to push my ability to the limit. I believe that the dedication that I demonstrate in everything I do would make me a valuable member of a university’s Track and Field Team.