- 2021 Highlights
Personal Statement
My name is Madeleine Smith but feel free to call me Maddie or Mojo which is the nickname given to me by my Family. Mojo is a magic charm or as my family puts it the energy that I bring with me that changes my surroundings. I have a passion for life and adventure and also know the importance of hard work when you have goals to achieve. I have been fortunate to have grown up seeing my grandparents work hard in their business and also witness my parents overcome obstacles because of my Dads role in the Army and the many transitions we have made. I was born in Dallas Texas , but moved to Ft Hood when I was 3 years old and then back to Dallas when I was 6 . In the time that I lived in Northeast and Central Texas I was involved in many activities including gymnastics, swimming , dance and softball. When I was 9 the Army moved my family to Southern California and I tried beach volleyball and loved it! Moving to California was difficult for me I was far away from my family and friends , but volleyball was a good outlet .My younger sister had always played soccer and found a team in CA that she really liked. In 2013 she had a great coach and he had another team in my age group they were in need of a goalie and he asked if I wanted to join. I had never played soccer before but I was excited to try something new . I played as a goalkeeper for 3 seasons with that team . The first season I played my team was 9-0-1 in the region we went on to win the Area E playoffs and then competed in the Section tournament where we finished 2nd . Needless to say through that experience with a great coach , competitive teammates and the rush of winning I quickly developed a love for soccer . My family moved again when I was 12 but I found a soccer team immediately . The team I joined already had two goalies so I played as a field player first at defense , then mid and worked my way up to playing forward . There is no better feeling than moving a ball down the field with your teammates and scoring a goal! I have played with various teams and leagues rec , indoor , club and school in CA(2013-2015)Texas (2015-16)Tennessee (2016-2018)and now Hershey Pennsylvania. Moving to Pennsylvania my freshman year was another challenging time for me I have always been a good student and my studies are important to me , but we moved in to a highly competitive area for academics and athletics and I found that fitting in to a tight knit community wasn’t as easy as I imagined . I missed my family and friends spread far across the country . Difficult as it was I tried out for the school soccer team , had a great experience and grew a lot that year. Eventually I made some close friends joined a club team and felt like I was settling in . Sophomore year was great on and off the field. I excelled in my classes and learned a lot from my teammates and coaches . Then came 2020 right after my club team competed in a showcase tournament in March everything shut down . School closed , soccer stopped , the world around me changed . I worked hard during lockdown working out daily , studying and focusing on my nutrition . I was finally able to compete in a soccer tournament late in the summer and it was great! My strength and speed had greatly improved . When junior year started and soccer season was here I was excited ! Preseason was well underway and I was practicing hard ! At practice the week before our first game I planted in a drill and turned , instantly I knew something was wrong. A week later on my birthday I found out I had torn my ACL and would need surgery . I was devastated . Fortunately I have awesome coaches , teammates and family a great support system . I had surgery , some days it really got me down but I chose to focus on getting better . I joined more clubs at school and studied more . I have worked hard on my recovery going to PT regularly and working out on my own . I am right on track to getting back on the field this summer and I cannot wait! Being injured opened my eyes to a lot of things . It was hard to sit on the sidelines watching every varsity game , but I smiled through it and supported my team . This challenge has taught me that nothing is guaranteed and plans can change in an instant . Being on the sidelines gave me the added opportunity to observe different positions and become a better student of the game . I was also able to support teammates who had injuries and I could relate to them on a deeper level. My injury has only revealed to me how much soccer and what it represents means to me . My recovery time also has allowed me to get to know myself and what my passions are . I love to travel and connect with people . I like to encourage others and motivate them with words and actions . My desire is to play College Soccer and Major in Business . I am prepared to work hard on and off the field in my College career and feel confident that the experiences I have had in my life have prepared me for what I may face .I look forward to furthering my education and when I graduate using the skills and experiences I have gained to impact a variety of industries that I am drawn to. I am currently taking additional SAT prep classes and will take my SAT soon along with several AP exams . I am working at a local gym when I am not in school or working out . I am looking forward to this Summer for campus visits and getting back on the playing field . Senior year is quickly approaching and I am currently researching different colleges and I am looking forward to finding my place.
