S. Abigail Giroux '25 Recruiting Profile

I am an athlete, but I am also a learner, and a citizen of the world. I seek a collegiate experience that will allow me to compete in events, will give me a high-quality education in my academic areas of interest, and will offer opportunities to contribute to the community in ways that have social value. I like to think about what motivates me the most.

I am motivated by concrete goals. I like to know that at the end of some enormous effort or long project, I will have achieved something real that can be measured, that has an impact. I have served on the Maryland Center for School Safety for the last two years. This independent unit of Maryland’s state government is responsible for coordination on issues pertaining to safety in Maryland’s public and private schools. I have served as Lead on the Engagement and Outreach Committee in Grades 9 and 10. I am proud of the work our team has done over the last two years to educate schools about the new anonymous school safety tip line. This work on school safety required sustained effort over time, and commitment to meeting our team goals. 

I am motivated by knowing my work, or project, or art, has social value. I have noticed the feeling of accomplishment from completing a project with social value is more intense and much longer lasting. I have been training to work with Athletes Serving Athletes, an organization that partners runners with severely mobility-impaired athletes who wish to participate in races. We run in groups trading off the job of pushing and running alongside the athlete we are assisting. My work with Athletes Serving Athletes reflects my love of running and the value I place on inclusivity within the sport.

I am motivated by self-improvement. I derive satisfaction from mastering a new skill, getting faster, and even improving at self-advocacy. I am always looking for opportunities to learn. I was recently accepted to the UPenn Social Innovators Program, and I hope that the program will help me develop my idea for a running-related charitable initiative. I have a growth mindset, and I am willing to work hard to achieve a goal be it academic, athletic, or otherwise.