Personal Statement
It was on an overgrown field, long grass tickling the tops of my cleats, the ball rolling slowly forward, when I first remember falling in love with soccer. It was one touch, one shot, and a goal over the goalie’s head in a rivalry game to tie it up 1-1 in the last 30 seconds. I remember the final whistle blowing and our celebratory run towards our goalie, as well as high fives for anyone I could reach. It wasn’t just the goal that made me fall in love, but the adrenaline, excitement, and joy that it brought my teammates and I. I fell in love with soccer, not because of winning, but because of its ability to brighten any day, to bring together people who otherwise would never have met. From that day forward, every game was another chance to lace up my cleats, shove my shin guards into my dirty socks, and recreate that moment. It was with soccer I learned how to lead, and how to follow. With soccer I learned confidence, in myself and in my team. Yes, it only took one shot for me to fall in love, but it’s taken years upon years to develop the leadership skills, as well as the self-confidence, that soccer has been guiding me towards since I started playing when I was three.
Discipline was one of the many secret lessons soccer taught me over the years. Disciplined defense, tactful attacking, and obedience to the coach or running would ensue. This, without me realizing it, has transferred to other parts of my life, including academics. I take my education seriously, and have made sure to maintain a high level of expectation in my studies. I have worked equally as hard in my studies as I do on the soccer field, having always, without knowing, correlated the two. My skills developed through soccer, and through academics, make me a strong leader and a dedicated player to the team. I am almost always prepared to play, to give my all when I am out on the field or in the classroom. I will never back down from a challenge, never take my eye off the ball. As a passionate and dedicated player, I believe I have what it takes to be a leader and team-oriented player on your team!
