Alec Kessler Student-Athlete Scholarship, Admission Essay Example

Schools do not merely provide in-class instructions to their students but also encourage them to participate in sports and other co-curricular activities. Schools understand sports and co-curricular activities teach students valuable skills and lessons that they may not learn in classrooms and which are, nonetheless, important for success in the real world. Fortunately, not only my teachers recognized my athletic potential and encouraged to play sports but I also received unconditional support for my family who believes in the importance of a healthy body as much it does in the importance of a healthy mind.

I learnt early during my high school sports career that hard work is important but it doesn’t always yield desirable results. Failures are part of the journey and true success lies in not giving up no matter how many disappointments may come along the way. Even though I eventually became one of the key members of high school beach volleyball and tennis teams, the early times were not as smooth. When I initially failed to make into high school beach volleyball team, I even thought of giving up the sport altogether but my family, teachers, and loyal friends boosted my morale and convinced me to believe in myself. My hard work paid off and not only I made it into the team but was even declared the most improved volleyball player in 2012 and by 2014, I was considered the best all-around beach volleyball player in my high school.

My commitment to excellence has not been limited to sports only but is also evident in my academic performance. I rank in the top 5 percent of my graduating class. Just like in sports, there have been times when my semester GPA was below my expectations but disappointments only motivated me to work harder. For this, I have to thank my early experiences in high school volleyball team since they taught me several lessons that have served me well in academics, too.

One of the lessons I have learnt by playing sports and which applies to almost everything in life including professional career is that successful journey is not a sprint but a marathon. There may be disappointments along the way but the important thing is to keep moving forward and learn from mistakes and shortcomings. My goal is to eventually own my own business and I understand things may not always go smoothly but the important thing is that I should not give up. Another lesson from sports which I apply to my studies and will also apply to my professional life is continuous self-improvement. Change is now a fact of life and this has only increased the importance of continuous self-improvement.

I have also learnt time is one of the most valuable resources we have. Life will only get busier over time but our time resources will remain the same. Thus, the key to getting more is to more efficiently manage our time resources. Sports have also taught me leadership skills which will serve me well in professional life. I have learnt leadership is the art of getting things done through others. A leader surrounds himself with the right people and invests in them. A leader knows the importance of teamwork.

While I may possess motivation and strong work ethics, I also need financial resources to successfully complete college and unfortunately, my family has limited means. This is why I have applied for this scholarship because it will enable me to focus on academics and also take advantage of other learning opportunities. College education is meant to provide a strong foundation for career ambitions and I am determined to make the most out of my time in college. I also believe in paying forward and intend to support scholarship programs that assist students from low-income backgrounds.