Sophia Perez '22 Recruiting Profile

My alarm rings at 4:30 a.m. A normal person would hit the snooze and continue to dream, continue to imagine their hopes and goals come to life. Every morning I wake up and realize why I set that alarm in the first place. It's not to continue to sleep and imagine  hopes and goals come to life, it's to take action and make those goals and hopes become a reality. I set that alarm to get to my swim practice with ample time to get ready and work hard every week day and Saturday. Every day I show up and diligently perform enjoying every moment where I surpass the expectations of not only my coaches, but myself, leading me to pursue a new objective I never could have guessed I would search for.

         I yearn to become a better student/ athlete every day. Some may find strict daily practice schedules to be tedium and meaningless to their growth as a swimmer, but I choose to be optimistic towards my training, that's how I was raised. The expectations I have for myself are immense because I hold myself to a higher standard. I am a firsthand account on how a growth mindset makes you a not only a better athlete, but also an exceptional person. When I was 8 years old, I was diagnosed with Scoliosis, an exaggerated curvature of the spinal cord. At the age of 10, my spinal curve passed 25 degrees and I needed to wear a back brace to sleep. Through the years the amount of time I had to bear the dreadful brace increased until December of 2017, my mother and I were told by the incredible Dr. Harry Schufflebarger that I needed to have surgery. We set the date for June 13, 2018. I saw my final swimming days prior to my operation unfold, and I could not bear the thought of being prohibited from swimming for three months, and not doing a single flip turn or butterfly stroke for six months. I had no idea what true agony felt like until I woke up the next morning in tears from the pain along my spinal cord. Post surgery was an uphill battle, but it's my work ethic that got me where I am. I have never been handed anything, everything I achieve comes from hard work. I constantly questioned every decision I made. I felt as though everything was working against me, but through adversity, I persevered. At our Championship meets in March of 2019, in comparison to how I did pre- surgery, I showed improvement in time and efficiency in every event I swam. Later that year during our high school swim season, I became class 4a district 12 champion in the 200 freestyle and placed second at districts in the 500 freestyle, and I placed fourth in the 200 freestyle in region 4. From that moment on I knew my heart belonged to swimming. When pools were shut down due to the Covid- 19 pandemic, it was a small hiccup in comparison to what I endured merely two years ago. I am a master in pursuing goals through calamity, which is why I am a leader in the pool and classroom.

         When asked what makes me a good candidate that stands out from other recruits, I can think of a plethora of characteristics that make up who I am. One that resonates with myself and others I meet is my strength and determination. I know pain. I have endured it. I know that I can push myself in ways others cannot begin to comprehend. I am a coachable and smart swimmer and student. When given feedback or corrections, I apply them immediately and work to make good habits. I study and work hard in school following guidelines my teachers set for me. I never miss deadlines and am always prepared for tests and exams, even if I had a swim meet that weekend. In my free time I enjoy expanding my vernacular by picking up a good book and reading. I am family oriented and that translates to your team. I will represent your team with pride and treat them not as teammates, but as family because that's what your team would become. In the end, my current goals are simple, go to college, swim, study, and become the best fit possible for your school. That is what makes me stand out from other recruits and makes me a good candidate for your school.