Personal Statement
I have been playing football since I could walk and have ambitions of becoming a professional footballer. Coming from the small island of Bermuda, which is 21 square miles, this would be a major achievement for both the island and me.
From a young age I was always extremely athletic. My exposure to sports ranged incorporated baseball, badmington, softball, cricket, track and field and even squash. If my school offered the opportunity to be involved in something athletic I was always available to participate.
These varied experiences, both as a team member and at the individual level, helped build my love for sports, develop my ability to work as part of a team, and instilled discipline and drive in me to perform at my highest potential. My interest extends beyond the obvious aspects of the game to the business aspects of the sport. I am keen to understand the intricacies that drive the economic factors associated with sports.
My GCSE studies in business and economics peeked my interest in the factors associated with sports off the field. I chose a BTEC in Sport to further enhance my understanding of physiology, nutrition and (list the things you’re currently studying here).
My immediate goal is to secure a contract as a professional footballer; however, I recognize that that career has a short shelf life. I want to ensure that my future is solidified with a degree in sports management focused on the business aspects. My career goal is to manage a sports club which will involve handling the finances, managing human resources, and marketing.
It is important to me, that my skills are transferrable to the Bermuda model. I would like to develop a program that would allow athletes, such as myself, a pathway to success in our own island. Many elite athletes must leave home at a young age, in order to remain competitive.
The BTEC course fosters independent learning and responsibility; while the nature of the curriculum means that we are required to manage our own assignments, and function as we would in a university setting with minimal intervention from our teachers. Independence is something that I had to learn at an early age. I left Bermuda at 13 to attend boarding school; a transition that solidified my passion to focus heavily on a career in sport.
I often open up the BBC sport website to see what is going on within the sporting world, particularly the business side. I now watch football and find myself thinking about the game on a different level. For example, what factors have led to an inflation in rates of professional football players since the early 2000s?
My interest in business is potentially genetic, considering the three generations of my family that have owned and operated a successful retail pharmacy in Bermuda. I have worked in several areas of the business and often discuss the intricacies of maintaining our successful family business around the proverbial dinner table.
Much of my formative years have been spent improving my skills on the football pitch. I have represented my country at the international level since the U15 age group and most recently was a starting member of the U20 team at the Concacaf tournament held at IMG in Tampa, Florida. I have faced very high profile teams such as; Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama and many more in the regional CONCACAF competitions.
In year 11, I was selected to travel with ISFA U16 select team to Berlin to face off against various teams in Berlin as well as academy sides in the UK. ISFA is a team formed of select players chosen from all independent school in the UK. My team went undefeated the entire season beating teams like Everton, Hertha Berlin, Millwall and many more. In that same year, as a testament to my organization and focus, I also managed to sit and pass all of 8 of my GCSE exams which included an A in English and PE and a B in math after being predicted an E. Currently, at Royal Russell, I am predicted to receive a merit in the BTEC course.
I have represented my schools nationally in the final stages of high profile competitions within the UK; for example I have competed in both ISFA tournaments as well as ESFA (English schools) competitions, which have over 900 schools participating across both private and state schools. The highlight of my high scool sporting career was reaching the semi-finals in year 11, with the u18 team.
My time at boarding school, since the age of 12, has taught me to be more accountable for my own actions, more responsible for my role in my own success, and helped me to mature indepent and apart from my parents direction. I feel that my transition to University will be a smooth one as I have already acquired many of the traits required for success at that level.
