Zharria John '19 Recruiting Profile

I've been involved in sports since I was seven years of age. I started out playing recreational soccer for my township and at nine years of age started to play club. Field Hockey was introduced to me in middle school, when we were asked to choose a sport for the middle school sports program. I chose field hockey because it looked like fun and I was already playing travel soccer. I fell in love with the sport, then and there and I played all three years in middle school. When I started high school, I had to choose between field hockey and soccer because they were both played in the same season. Coaches of both teams reached out to me but after much thought I chose soccer because I felt that I had played it for a longer period of time. I started varsity soccer my first two years of high school,  however I still  stayed involved with field hockey. I went to Fairleigh Dickinson camp in the summer of my freshman and sophomore years and I went to the off season practices with the high school team. At my last camp experience, I was one of the players recommended by the coach, for the  USA field hockey Futures program. I attended the program and decided finally, for my junior year, that  I was going to switch to field hockey in high school. Once I made the decision, I was fully committed to field hockey. I started for the high school team and we were able for the first time in several seasons to make it to the high school playoffs and second round GMC's. I was awarded a certificate of Honorable Mention from the Greater Middlesex coaches. I continued to practice and improve on my field hockey skills by becoming a member of the Mid-Jersey Knights travel team. I attended the National Field Hockey festival in Florida this November and totally enjoyed the experience. I see field hockey as a metaphor for life, you have to work hard, be a team player but know when to lead, lose and win with dignity and above all leave it all on the field. My goal at this time is to continue to play field hockey at a college that values academic excellence and athletic endeavors. I am by nature a competitor and a hard worker in both arenas. I want to go to school to study business as I want to be an entrepreneur . My plans however may change and that is the beauty of the college experience and a college that supports me as a student and helps to facilitate my options is always helpful. I believe I am a well rounded student as I am strong academically ( Honor Roll) and committed to a varsity sport.  I look forward to the opportunity to play the sport I love in college and to continue my hard work on an off the field.