Deshay Fernandes '18 Recruiting Profile

I am Deshay Fernandes.  I was born into the foster care system in Miami in 1999. Knowing what I know now, the older kids get in foster care, the less likely it is to get adopted. I was lucky to be adopted at 5 years old. I am a positive person who always looks forward into the future to the events I can change.  I am grateful for my parents' love and support to do whatever I want to do in life.  I learned compassion from them.

I have always been an athlete. I competed in soccer, flag football, lacrosse and cross country and track. Running is where I found my passion. My high school goal in cross country is to run a sub 15 minute 5K.  I want to go sub 1:50 in the 800M and sub 4:15 in the 1600M.  Being injured last fall with a stress fracture was very disappointing; but I feel I am on track now to get stronger and faster as demonstrated in my spring track season results.

I started playing trumpet in jazz band in middle school and still play in high school. I spend a good portion of my summers mentoring kids in an educational program called Breakthrough Miami to give back to a program that I attended since 8th grade. I also work part time in a catering company. I understand how important hard work is in all aspects of my life.

Going to college is an opportunity that could have been out of reach for a kid like me; but I was granted a second chance to work hard and continue to look forward.