Emilianos Vlahos '21 Recruiting Profile

I consider the most influential event of my life so far to be my family's emigration to the United States from England in the Summer of 2018. This event not only changed the outcome of my future life but also changed me as a person, from both an academic and an athletic perspective. This shift in my life caused me to re-evaluate many of the values I had previously held. The school I joined, St John's, pushed me harder than any school I had previously experienced and transformed me into a determined and, beyond all else, a relentless student. On the track, I experienced a whole new coaching style, one that I was not used to in England. To thrive at my school, I had to learn their style of learning, which enabled me to become a far more adaptable athlete and allowed for me to combine both what I knew before and have learned now to develop into the student-athlete I am today.

I have run track since I was 10, and it has been a fundamental aspect of my life. Through victory and defeat, I have experienced both sides of the events I love. It has taught me discipline, determination, and competitiveness to never be outworked that no other part of my life has been able to accomplish as effectively. From the skills I have learned, the leadership which I have evolved upon, and the bonds I have made with my teammates, I hope to compete with my team to a division title this year and the next before I graduate.

My academic goals by the end of high school are to raise my GPA to a 4.0 on the 4-point scale. I see this less of a way to help me achieve my goals by attending a college I love, but rather as another challenge I can set myself in my stride to becoming the best version of myself. However, I would not have been able to set this kind of goal for myself had I not overcome personal challenges, such as my aforementioned changing of school and country, including my adaptation to a new environment. Athletically I have faced injury and defeat, which has only proved my dedication to the three sports I play, putting everything on the line not only for myself but also for my teammates which have ultimately become my family. 

Physically speaking, I am unique in my speed and strength, which have always separated me from my peers. However, I believe I bring far more to the table than this. My countless years of experience in athletics have made me smarter, more aware, and enabled me to enact in plenty of self-analysis and improvement, which sets me apart from the rest. My goal for college is to commit once again to something larger than myself, to give my all to a program for the sport and academics I love.