This one is personal...

Here is my personal statement written for my graduate school application. It is a short collection of my reflections and aspirations. As you read it I hope you reflect on your own 'WHY' and continue to pursue your destiny on this miraculous planet we call Earth.

Currently I am employed as a health education teacher at a charter school in Boston. 12 years ago, as I was entering my freshman year training camp to play division 1 football, I would not have fathomed becoming a teacher. After analyzing the different journeys throughout my life, it makes sense why I work in a high school.

Transitioning to college was one of the scariest moments of my life. I did not feel prepared to be ready for the rigorous classes, living outside of my mother’s home, nor for the level of competition I was about to experience on the football field. This surge of emotions converged and morphed into simply put, self doubt, yet no one would have ever guessed. I look for this fear and doubt in the students that I teach, coach and mentor. Over the years I have been able to spot moments and actions that are a prerequisite to athletes doubting their true abilities. It is then my self proclaimed job to help them navigate those feelings and turn it into motivation towards finding true purpose. Ultimately becoming the person I wish would have found me when I was in high school.

I have realized that I have been challenged in understanding how to use my time to its full potential. Due to my desire to reach as many athletes as possible, I tend to rush through the planning of my ideas, sacrificing the effectiveness they could have. I also have a young family, a wife, two sons under 5 years old, and a daughter that is due in the coming weeks. It is difficult to find the time to be attentive to the athletes' needs that I coach and mentor, which at times can be perceived as a sacrifice away from my own family time. The invaluable lessons I have learned about resilience, discipline, and teamwork are what keep me striving to find the perfect balance. With that said, furthering my education and learning from those who have already accomplished what I plan to do in the near future is the main reason I chose to apply to the Sport Leadership Masters Program through Endicott College.

As far back as I can remember I have immersed myself in various sports and activities, driven by a yearning for physical growth, mental toughness, and competition. I am now a teacher of a subject that I am passionate about, but my aspirations are to successfully lead and run an athletics program at the high school level, and eventually move up to the collegiate level. Studying the internal workings of a multitude of sport programs and what it takes to operate them at a high level, will give me the skills I will need in the job market. After successfully completing the Sport Leadership masters program, I will be able to harness all of my passions and produce a tangible outcome that will benefit any young people involved in my program.