John Fenwick '21 Recruiting Profile

January 2013, my tenth birthday, I was excited to be traveling to Philadelphia to see my first live NBA game.  My favorite team, the Memphis Grizzlies, were playing the Philadelphia 76ers.  I didn’t know it until we got there, but we sat right next to the visitor’s tunnel.  Not only did I see my favorite player, Marc Gasol, but he made a game sealing block shot.  Minutes later, I was shaking his hand and getting his autograph.

Quite a night, but that Grizzlies team has only become more important to me over time because of how they stood out and separated themselves from other teams in the NBA.  They weren’t flashy, they weren’t that athletic, but they outworked other teams. They put the team first and they made their teammates better.  Their style of play was labeled “Grit and Grind”.  

I’m not flashy, I’m not that athletic.  In my classes, I don’t always get things right the first time.  So, over time, I have developed my own version of “Grit and Grind”.  Over the past seven years, I’ve implemented a “first one there, last one out” mentality.   I dive on the floor for loose balls, make the extra pass, and try to give words of encouragement to my teammates.  

A hard-working mentality has allowed me to become a four year varsity player and a member of central Pennsylvania’s most respected club basketball team.  All while maintaining good grades, ranking academically in the top 5% of my class, and being inducted into the National Honor Society.

I have had to work hard to maintain those grades.  I’ve had to learn how to combine basketball and school, developing important skills such as organization and time-management.  I’ve learned how to win and lose.  I’ve learned how to ask for help and how to approach failure in a constructive way. I will use these skills for the rest of my life. 

I couldn’t have accomplished any of these things without the help of my family, my teachers, and my community.  For the past several summers, I have volunteered with physical therapists at a retirement community and nursing facility.  Volunteering with the therapists has given me a greater appreciation of the challenges faced by older adults and those with disabilities. I find that I am excited about the possibility of giving back to my community and working to help others.

When I attended that basketball game in 2013, I didn’t know how that Grizzlies team was labeled.  I just knew that I could identify with them and l liked how they played.  I am glad that I have learned the importance of teamwork, hard work, organization, and especially, perseverance.   I am excited to enter college where I hope to learn even more important lessons as I build my future.  That basketball game was a lot of fun, but I also think, in some way, it helped me to become the person who has the opportunity to write this statement.