Matthew Jabro '22 Recruiting Profile

I remember as a little kid occasionally waking up my mom because it felt like I could not breathe. My mom would pull out the machine that would help me breathe. She would plug it in and I could hear the roar as she would instruct me to open my mouth so I could breathe in the misty air. She would continue until my breaths would soften and I could take full deep breaths again. Years later my mom explained to me that I had asthma induced by colds.

As a kid, I was told to exercise but not “too hard” because my lungs would not be able to take it. I was a kid who loved to run and play; that was not an easy task. My love for running started when I began playing soccer at 5 years old. I started as a defender.  However my running strength pushed me to Forward and then to Wing where I could really showcase my speed. The pediatrician would always remind me about the strength of my lungs and not to run ‘too hard,” but I would still run. Running made me feel free and I was determined to win. Fortunately, my asthma got better when I was around 11. I have been told about 50% of the kids that “outgrow” their asthma may experience it again in their 30s and 40s. But that is not going to stop me from running. As a kid, I would have never believed that I would hold  4 records in my middle school and would make it on the Varsity team as a freshman in both track and cross country. Continuing to run and represent my college would not only make me proud but would also remind my younger self that I kept running hard and I did not give up. 

People would describe me as a determined and supportive team player. I know running is usually seen as an individual sport but to me running is a team sport. I need to have control over my mind and legs and the mental toughness to keep pushing. But at the end of the meet it is how many races my team won.  It is important to  encourage and cheer on my team when they feel they have reached their limit. It is important to connect with the team both on and off the track.  I am the teammate that invites others over to work on a school projects or just to hangout and have fun.

I am looking for a school where I can compete as a runner but also where I can receive an excellent education. I would ultimately like to go to professional school. I realize that I must have good time management and stay focused. I am confident that hard work and determination will allow me to achieve my goals.