Personal Statement
Hi there! It's SENIOR YEAR! Thank you for looking over my profile. I've been playing soccer since I was 4 years old, starting out on community teams and then moving on to travel soccer all over the state with a club based in Hood River and The Dalles, Oregon. Then in 2018 I started high school as a varsity starter, and even though it's hard to believe, it's now senior year and I'm still playing! Although the COVID-19 pandemic slowed things down a little bit, I'm not letting it affect my dreams of playing college soccer after graduation.
In the fall of 2018 as a freshman in high school I helped take our school back to the state playoffs for the first time in several years. We advanced to playoffs again my sophomore year, and even though my junior year season was delayed due to COVID and we played on a shorter spring schedule, we still finished 2nd in our conference after a double overtime shootout against our long time rivals! Now as a senior, it's hard to believe my journey with The Dalles High School is starting to come to an end, and I am enjoying every moment I can on the field.
And I'm not done yet! Once soccer ends I'll move on to my last season in the pool, representing my high school as the girls' varsity swim captain. I might try to catch my breath a bit when swimming is over but I will likely play in my local 5v5 league again in the spring and just prepare for graduation and the next steps! After that...well I'm hoping for more soccer (and maybe swimming) too - just in a new place on a new adventure as a exercise science or physical therapy major.
My time on the soccer field has provided me with skills and memories that I will take with me forever. Over the years I've also had the opportunity to attend several camps and clinics, including a truly amazing residential camp in 2019 hosted by Pacific University and run by the Portland Thorns. I've also attended residential college camps at the University of Montana, the University of Oregon, and the University of Portland. Finally this past summer I participated in the Midwest Girls Academic 50 ID Camp through EXACT Sports in Schaumburg, Illinois. All of these were fantastic experiences where I connected with coaches and players from all over the country, worked on my skills, and picked up both new tricks and new friends!
Living 80 miles from the closest BIG city makes it difficult sometimes to find opportunities to play, but my parents have always done everything they could to keep me on the field. For several years I played on a travel team with BSC Hood River and then the Gorge Soccer League. I've also kept my skills up over the years by taking every chance I can to attend small group training sessions and my local 5v5 league, both run by former professional player Matt Dallman who also runs the Gorge Soccer Academy and has helped me tremendously. All of these opportunities have helped me keep my foot on the ball over the years in between seasons.
Playing soccer has probably been the thing that I have enjoyed most in high school - but swimming is a close runner up! This year I will be captain of our girls' varsity swim team, and I hope to return to state finals one last time. I am generally a distance swimmer (although I can sprint as well) and I have always believed that my time on the field gives me an advantage in the pool, and there is no doubt that distance swimming helps me with my endurance on the field!
I also keep myself busy when I'm not doing sports. I'm an honor roll student, a member of the link crew, and a teacher cadet. I was class President during my freshman and sophomore years, which was a challenging and amazing experience. In the summer I work as a head lifeguard and teach swim lessons. And last but not least, I've volunteered at my local food bank and as a youth soccer referee. It's hard to believe that high school is coming to an end, but it has been a truly amazing experience and I'm really proud of my accomplishments.
But no matter what I have going on, I always find my way back to the field. My life wouldn't be complete without soccer. Over the years I have had some injuries like any athlete - the usual sprains, strains, and bone bruises - and I have been really lucky that it hasn't ever been anything too serious. But along the way I have met some amazing physical therapists and athletic trainers, and those experiences made me realize that it's what I want to do after high school. My dream is to become a physical therapist or athletic trainer so I can give back to the sports that I love. I've always been fascinated by the way that our bodies move and our muscles and brains work together so if I can help other athletes the way I've been helped, I can't think of a better way to give back.
I am excited for whatever happens next! Thank you again for your interest! Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
