- July 2017
Personal Statement
As a rising senior at J.R. Tucker High School, I have been enrolled in a specialty program at J. Sergeant Reynolds Community College, taking all college-level courses over the last 2 years. Before I graduate from high school in June, I will receive my Associates degree (in May, 2018) from Reynolds. Despite a very rigorous program, I have maintained a 4.3 GPA and scored 1160 on my SAT.
My greatest passion has always been soccer. I was starting goalkeeper in middle school all 3 years and played Varsity soccer all 3 years of high school (starting the last two.) I expect to start in my senior year as well. I have played outdoor soccer for the Richmond Strikers since I was 4-years old. I have also played indoor soccer year-round for conditioning and for fun, and I have had personal goalkeeper training as well. I have been a guest player for several travel teams in multiple clubs. I have also been asked repeatedly to join some of those teams, but I chose not to play travel since my club coach had several teams with the Richmond Strikers and since he allowed me to play goalkeeper for all of those teams. This regularly allowed me to play 3-5 games on any given weekend.
My greatest challenge in soccer was probably two years ago at the Virginia Beach Sand Soccer Championships when I played on three different teams at opposite ends of the boardwalk. I ran back and forth all weekend to play in a total of 15 games, and we won all three championships. My coach often teases me, saying that I would eat, drink, and sleep in goal if permitted.
Although I have played other sports (softball, basketball, swimming, tennis, gymnastics), nothing has spoken to me like soccer. I did play high school cross country last year to stay in shape, but this year the Varsity field hockey coach has convinced me to be the field hockey keeper instead of doing cross country. I look forward to the challenge since I have never played field hockey before.
My collegiate goals are still very general. I would like to do something in the medical field, perhaps as a nurse or an x-ray technician. I am hoping that in college I will be able to streamline my goals and to continue to play the sport that I love.
Austin Eshmont
804-357-2296
