Cole Nelson '24 Recruiting Profile

Over the past few years I have learned the importance of simply putting others before yourself. I know this seems like such a simple thing but the impact of this can be so much bigger than the gesture itself. I’ll share with you some of the events that have led me to this conclusion and turned me into the person I am today and not just a student-athlete.

My parents have friends with a son who was born with Down Syndrome. Coincidentally, his name is also Cole. His mother runs the Boston Marathon each year to raise money for the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress. She created her own charity with a 5K called Run4Cole. She uses this to raise the required funds for the marathon. For the past several years I have volunteered. I spend time with kids that have challenges so much greater than I could even begin to imagine. I helped them with games and climbing through the fire trucks. I helped them understand the path to take when they were participating in the run. The smiles, hugs and genuine thanks that I received was truly amazing. It takes so little to change someone’s day. They were so genuinely happy to be treated like everyone else. The people I met were far from ordinary. They were extraordinary. These experiences changed me. I wanted to do more. I found an opportunity to do that when I was selected to the National American Youth Football team representing Central Massachusetts. I was required to fund raise to cover my travel costs. Through the generosity of others, I was able to raise more than the required amount. The league stated that additional funds used could be kept for spending money. I decided that was my chance to make a difference. I took the extra funds and made donations to not only the MDSC but also to Boston Children’s Medical Center. I wanted to give children who may not be able to experience all the great things that football has brought into my life some hope for better things to come. It was quite simply the right thing to do. I use what I learned through this to continue charity work raising funds for breast cancer and participating in charity events coordinated by my high school football team.

Charity work is extremely fulfilling but there are so many other ways to put others first. Sometimes, it is just being there. In the last year, one of my teammates was dealing with issues that he did not share openly. As he was trying to work though this, he fell into a depression and finally shared his situation with another teammate. Carrying the weight of this information was extremely difficult. When his behavior started to change, I was asked to see what was wrong. At 14 years old, I had no idea it was this serious of a topic. I was able to get both teammates talking and reach out to an adult to get them the help they needed. Their pain was so hard to see but I knew that I just needed to be someone for them to lean on. Over the following weeks, the three of us became very close. I made sure I answered calls or texts quickly and always focused on the good to come. The bond we now share will never be broken and the day I heard that our friend was okay was the best birthday present I could have even received.

In school I am lucky enough to be surrounded by some great friends. Some of them have difficult home lives and sometimes it affects them at school. At this point I know what can trigger them and therefore get them in trouble. I have sat down with these friends and talked out a plan to help them during these times. When trouble arises, I step in when I can to diffuse the situation. This can put me at risk of being hurt or yelled at but making sure that these friends know they have someone in their corner can be the very thing that keeps them from getting in trouble the next day. In the end, I want them to know that they are bigger then where they came from and are meant to achieve so much more.

Putting someone else first is not about receiving recognition for doing it. It is about doing the right thing, at the right time, for the right person. If you do those things, the rewards are priceless. The joy or hope that you give to someone who desperately wants to fit it or is fighting a hidden battle doesn’t cost you a thing but can leave everyone rich and their hearts full.

As a freshman, thinking about college feels light years away but I know is right around the corner. I wanted the opportunity to build a career doing something I would truly enjoy so I chose a trade school. I love working with my hands and this just seemed to fit. Academically I do well in my classes and am proud to be an honors student. By Christmas I will know which trade I will pursue but regardless I would like to back that knowledge up with a college degree in business. This will allow me open multiple paths in my career.

As an athlete, I just love the game of football. Being surrounded by my brothers on the field and doing whatever it takes is just hardwired into who I am. I don’t shy away from the hard work that is required to get better every day whether it’s time in the gym, film room or on the field. There is nothing better than the team being victorious.