Justine Czyrka '20 Recruiting Profile

Getting a college education has always been part of my life plan. More specific I have a goal to work hard on my studies and achieve a high grade point average in my core classes. Following this, my plan is to enter into the school of business and continue to hold myself to the highest standards and achieve honors when I graduate. My dad has been a role model for me in this area.  He played college basketball on scholarship.  He was able to maintain a 4.0 grade point, graduate with honors in computer science while being captain of this team. My athletic goals are similar in nature.  Be the best I can be.  Hold myself accountable, no excuses. I live by an open mindset.  I show up to work and contribute.  I crave being part of a team.  I want to lift them up with my performance. I want to show them I belong and with me I can make them stronger.

My work ethic is one of my biggest strengths. Champion level swimming has not come as natural to me as others. Giving it everything I have, every time, without hesitation has come out of necessity in order to reach that next level swimming.  Another strength is challenging the status quo.  If someone says I can’t do something, I show them I can.  I am not afraid of a challenge.  As far as my weaknesses, one is that I am often accused of being shy. I continually overcome this by immersing myself in my community, my large high school and swim teams that have boys and girls of diverse backgrounds. I attract those around me by making them feel comfortable to be themselves.   I was even recently voted “biggest social butterfly” in a team bonding event.  Lastly a weakness I have identified in myself is juggling many things at once, and not always doing my best work.  I have to attribute swimming to my success in overcoming this. In order to maintain my swim schedule, I had to learn how to prioritize.  I break things apart and get to the heart of the matter in completing everything on my plate with success.

Swimming is a large part of my life, if there is a time away from the pool, I am connecting with my friends and family. On winter breaks outside of the classroom I enjoy skiing in the winter with them and during summer breaks my time with them usually involves the water, where we boogie board, surf, paddleboard and jet ski. In addition outside the classroom I participate in fundraising activities for my school team, club swim team and my church.  Including car washes, packing food in a Detroit Food bank, and the SJ 5K run benefiting low income families with basic needs.

Why do I want to become a member of the SVSU swimming and diving program and what do I think I could bring in helping to achieve your lofty goals? You may feel this is overused, but it is my reality, swimming is my passion!   There are a few times that I have seen others, even great talents that leave the sport when entering in the 13-14 bracket or their junior year or high school because the no longer had passion. The passion it takes to put the time and work in.  There was never a time I felt this way.  Was I tired?  yes, did I hurt?, yes, but did my passion ever waver, NO! .  It has broken me down at times only to rebuild me stronger than ever.  I pride myself in my ability to reach others, I use my humor and sense of compassion to pick them up on their darkest days, but I am also there to celebrate their success. I often lose my voice cheering all my teammates on especially suffer from lack of confidence.  I will do everything I can to increase the team’s confidence, let each know they matter, nurture them to have an open mindset.   Lastly, I want will commit to finding something the team did not even know they needed in reaching their full potential.

Sincerely,

Justine Czyrka