Michael Thoresen '19 Recruiting Profile

    A famous transcendentalist once said, “Let us spend one day as deliberately as Nature, and not be thrown off the track by every nutshell and mosquito's wing that falls on the rails.” A strong believer in the individual, Henry David Thoreau’s quote came from his famous book, Walden; moreover, this book was about returning to nature to discover the true meaning of life and the importance of living it to the fullest. Thoreau was a pioneer of his time, doing what most others would not. Like Thoreau, I have done what others have not in order to work  towards my goal.

    Several years ago, I was embarked on a journey that got me to where I am today. I was competing for the few spots left open of the AAA Squirt Major team in my area, the Green Bay Jr Gamblers. I was year younger than most on that team and I knew how much it meant to me to make that team. After the tryout, my parents came to me after talking with the coach to let me know that I was not the player they were looking for. I was heartbroken. As we stopped for ice cream on the way home, I had a realization; I needed to push myself harder than I ever had before to make this team for the following year. I worked day and night through the summer and the winter. After practice, I would say to my dad, “Leave the car out, I want to shoot more.” The next spring I hoped to see if my hard work had paid off.

    At the tryout the following year, I played as hard as I could, giving myself the best shot at making the team. Afterwards, the coach posted the results. I was elated. I had made the team. I wanted to tell the world, but I knew the hard work could not stop there. For the next five years, I did what others did not and competed harder and harder every year always striving for improvement. If naysayers came my way, I would ignore them and continue on my path. Every nutshell and mosquito's wing that fell on the track did not derail me from my goals. Most would say I am successful, but I say I am unfinished.