Personal Statement
Hi! My name is Vasiliki Hamakiotes, but I go by Liki. I have a quirky personality and am very energetic and driven. I strive to continue to practice until I'm the best version of myself. In the face of adversity I am uplifting and resilient. I am eager to learn from you and my future teammates, and am confident in my ability to be a leader and positive presence on your team.
Playing basketball has helped me learn the importance of managing my time well so I can meet the expectations I set for myself both on the court and in school. I have maintained a high grade point average and have excelled in the math courses that are building the foundation for my future studies. The idea of being able to build something that could make other people's lives easier inspires me, and is one reason why I plan to become an engineer. While I am looking for a program that will challenge me athletically, I also seek a school that will challenge me academically.
My freshmen year, I broke my ankle and was out for the entire season. But I did not miss a single practice or game. I worked with my teammates and coach nonstop on and off the court. This earned me The Coach's Award. Some people would have given up and not gone to the practices or away games because they wouldn’t have been able to play. But to me, basketball is not only about the time spent playing on the court. It’s about pushing your limits, being able to trust your teammates, learning from one another, and having fun. I started playing basketball because it was fun and because I enjoy being challenged, and learning from so many amazing students. This is something I always remind myself because I am the best version of myself when I’m having fun.
Since school closed in March, I have been working out virtually with the program Steady Buckets in order to stay in shape, improve my confidence, strengthen my body and add more to my skill set. I’ve developed my leadership skills through coaching kids over zoom. Those kids became some of my closest friends and I hope I made as big of an impact in their lives, as they did in mine.
As I look ahead to college, I am looking forward to building relationships with new teammates and coaches, setting new high standards on and off the court, and giving back to the sport that I love.
Thank you for taking the time to read through my profile!
