Amanda Sirota '23 Recruiting Profile

My name is Amanda Sirota, I am fifteen years old, and I have been playing soccer for ten years. An award that I am most proud of is coming in second place in my soccer tournament in 2019. When I started playing for my club soccer team, we were in last place for our first season. However, through rigorous training and late-night practices, we persevered and got second place in our league. Not only did we make a vast improvement, but we also came closer as a team and moved up another level in our division. The primary sport that I participate in is soccer. I have been playing soccer since I was five years old. Three years ago, I began to play for my club soccer team, Thunder. This transition was challenging for me, but I learned to adjust, improve as a player, and take soccer more seriously. I can honestly say that soccer has become one of my passions in life. Making sure that I get ready on time and never miss practices or games has made me a more responsible and committed person. If I am training or playing in a game, and I get injured, I do not fall over and cry; I take a deep breath in and sprint towards the ball. People who are naturally good at soccer and do not work hard for their positions will never be as good as the players who train every day of the week. Hard work beats talent every time. My most significant achievement in soccer is when I made my first soccer goal in the season with my left foot. When I made my first goal, it was electrifying. I was playing as the left midfielder, and I shot the ball from halfway down the field. Since that moment, I have made two other goals in the season. Making a goal with my non-dominant foot showed me that my hard work and dedication had paid off. It also taught me the significance of teamwork because I could have never made that goal with the support of the defense and the assistance of the forwards. One of my leadership roles in soccer is being my soccer team's recruiter. I am a leader to my soccer team because I help incoming soccer players get to know everyone on the team, explain our practice drills, and encourage them to try harder when they get tired. When I first joined the team, I wish that I would have had someone to explain drills to me and introduce me to the other players. I also try to inspire my teammates on my club soccer team. When our coach tells us to run around the complex of the soccer park, a lot of people get tired quickly. However, after participating in my school's cross country team, I was able to do it faster and easier. As a result, I encourage all my teammates to keep running and not to give up. Sometimes, when I finish early, I run back so that they keep their pace and don't run alone.