JONATHAN JUN HAN CHIA '23 Recruiting Profile

Nearing the end of 2019, I joined a soccer club. Before this, I had zero experience playing the sport. Unsurprisingly, there was a significant gap in terms of skill between me and my peers. At first, I was discouraged as simple things like stopping the ball and passing it back proved challenging for a beginner like me. Many of my friends also unknowingly made me feel even more discouraged when they told me I was at a disadvantage as I had started a little too late. However, I told myself to shut out these demoralizing factors and focus on improving myself. So, I made it a point to practice my basics every day for an hour or so. While the task seemed tedious and it seemed as if I was not making any improvement for the first few weeks, I persevered and practiced the same exercises over and over again. Finally, my hard work paid off. My coach noticed the refinement in my skills. He was very pleased with my diligence and praised me for dedicating my time to soccer. From this experience, I took away that perseverance reaps enormous benefits. Not only did I improve my skills as a soccer player, but I also learned how to be disciplined. Taking this discipline into my schoolwork, I boosted my grades. When I took the time to focus on my studies and revise, my scores improved. Soccer has certainly been a positive influence in my life, helping me blossom into a better version of myself.