Marshal Van De Vegte '21 Recruiting Profile

During my college career, I would like to study Physical Education. My goal is to become

a professional kicker for the NFL and a physical education teacher and coach. I have always

loved sports and it is something that comes naturally to me. For most of my schooling through

junior high school, I struggled in most of my classes except for PE. My desire to become a

teacher is something no one would have expected from me.

When I was younger, I would never have thought that teaching was what I wanted to do

after college. Why would I want to be at school for the rest of my life?! When I was in second

grade, I started falling behind in reading and was defiant about going to school. My parents,

teacher, and principal got me setup on an IEP to help me with reading. My attendance was not

great. I just plain did not want to go to school. My mom struggled to get me to school. She tried

talking with school administration for help. Therapy and other possible solutions were

discussed.

In seventh grade, my attendance and lack of interest in going to school got so bad the

principal and my mom got into a huge argument. It had gotten to the point where they were

going to involve the School Resource Office for truancy. They were both extremely frustrated

and at their wits end. I witnessed this argument and extreme frustration. This situation really

made me re-evaluate my reluctance to go to school and whether I wanted to deal with the

police or get myself together.

Thankfully, I chose to become a better person, student, and son. I was able to turn my

attendance and academics around. In high school, I have been on the honor roll and even

received an excellent attendance award! I believe the teachers and coaches I have had, never

gave up on me, and are a big influence on me to get things turned about. I hope one day I can

help those students who may have had similar issues as I did when I become a teacher.