- 2024 Highlights
Personal Statement
Dear,
My name is Matiss Baranovskis, 16 years old high school student in Belgium and very passionate football player. Although I was interested in football from early childhood, my real football journey began at the age of 8 when I moved with my family to Ukraine. In Ukraine, I got the first training experience under ARSENAL Club system. At this early age I learned hard way of how it is to compete with many talented kids for the selection to play in the main or even second team. I developed all necessary technical and mental skills to become first team player. In my teenager years, I moved on to various countries where I acquired significant and extensive field experience in a multicultural environment.
Currently I am playing in in the highly competitive 3rd division of Belgium's U17 league. I commit to practicing four times a week, with a game on the weekends thus continuously pushing my own limits and contributing to my team's success. Since my arrival a year ago to this team my hard work and dedication has resulted into the fact that I am a stable first team’s player.
Allow me to elaborate on my style of play and the position. Technically, I play with both legs and my game position currently is left-winger. Nevertheless, I have been trained to play at least two other positions and thus to be flexible. I highly value technical skills such as precise and quick ball passing.
In my skill straining I prioritise exactly the ball movement and teamwork. I recognise this is critical element to win the game. Although I do not excessively rely on individual dribbling, I possess the skill to dribble effectively when the situation requires it.
One of my outstanding qualities is my general sense of game. I am trained and used to make quick decisions during the match (as one of my positions is also a midfielder). I have a great sense of field transparency, which enables me to take quickly tactical decisions, give strategic passes and find the optimal position on the pitch. I plan my actions well in advance, often already anticipating the next moves of other players, or what to do with the ball before it even reaches me, and where to execute my next pass.
I approach every single practice with concentration and determination. I consider every training session as a chance for me to improve, both individually and as a part of the team. I believe there are no such things as "stupid exercises."
My discipline and devotion to sports goes beyond the pitch. I am fully committed to hard work off the field as well. I maintain a healthy lifestyle, which includes eating healthy food, maintaining good hygiene, and ensuring I get enough sleep. This discipline not only contributes to my physical well-being but also reinforces my mental resilience.
Apart from football, my academic achievements are among my top priority. I currently attend a prestigious European school well-known for its strong academic programs. I am now in 11th grade, which means I should study hard to take already this year some final exams in certain subjects. My objective for this school year is to achieve relatively high GPA in all my subjects with an emphasis on the ones, for which I will have to take final exams in spring 2024. My study language is French, however it is not my native language. Therefore, I also concentrate very much on English, which is my second foreign language. At this stage, I equally consider economics, math and geography as priority subject at school.
To conclude – I wish to emphasize that studies in the US would give me an excellent opportunity to combine a high-level academic life with professional sports as both greatly complement to each other. Without good education, it is not possible to become excellent in sports. This is what I am looking for and I hope that I will be given this chance in 2025.
