Matteo Chirico '22 Recruiting Profile

I looked up what a personal statement is supposed to be. What I found is that its entire purpose is to sell myself; to present myself under a certain light that would impress the most prestigious schools. I am not a salesman. I strongly dislike selling myself as the act is inherently disingenuous, for it creates a contrast between the purpose and the message. 

For me, the purpose of this statement is to help myself be accepted to a great school with which to provide myself with a promising future. The issue lies in the misleading nature of the message as its goal is not transparency, but rather a deception made by selfish motivations.

With that being said, I’ll make my sales pitch: In my opinion, my most valuable quality is my dedication. This quality can be seen through my academic career and my personal life. Despite several learning disabilities, I have excelled academically; this year, I have received an ‘‘Excellent’’ work ethic in all of my classes. Outside of school, I run daily, I eat well, and maintain a healthy social life. All of these things, while they may look attractive to schools, I do first and foremost to maintain a healthy lifestyle and my well-being. Every action is taken exclusively with my happiness in mind. I don't play soccer for the scholarships, the lifestyle, or the image: I do it for me, because I love the game.