Kaitlyn Malloy '20 Recruiting Profile

     “Line up!” my kindergarten teacher yelled on the first day of school as I stood nervously in my plaid jumper and knee socks ready to take on my first day of school and the journey of my Catholic education.  I am seventeen years old and I have worn a uniform approximately 80% of my life! Since the age of 5 I have worn various plaid skirts, embroidered shirts, and knee-high socks. My Catholic education has had a tremendous impact on who I am today. Being grounded in my faith from a very young age, attending schools with very small class sizes, and having very personal relationships with my teachers has helped me focus, learn and develop connections with people. When I’m not in school, I spend many hours in another outfit: a soccer uniform. I have been playing soccer from the age of 5; soccer has taught me valuable lessons, such as leadership and teamwork.  These hours spent in different uniforms have shaped the person I am today.

   Over the years, I have asked my parents why they sent my brothers and I to Catholic schools. I wondered why they would spend so much on education. They would always tell me that they were investing in our futures and that they wanted us to have a solid foundation not only in learning, but in having a strong moral compass. Not only did they invest in school, but they also invested in athletics. I started on my city team and have played soccer at the premier level for eight years. Recently I understood the value of these investments. It has become clear to me because I am very focused academically and I am driven towards my own personal investment in my education. I am very focused on fitness and nutrition, and taking care of my body physically and spiritually.  In high school, I have been surrounded by friends who attended different schools from other cities and towns. I realize from our discussions and social interactions that the environment in a private Catholic school is very different. I have learned diversity through these friendships as well as through my participation in various soccer programs.

   These differences have strengthened me. I have a deep foundation within me in terms of knowing right from wrong, making good decisions, and not having to question myself when faced with the pressure of uncomfortable circumstances. My conscience speaks loudly and clearly guides me in the right direction. My education and my leadership on the soccer field have taught me to be a team player and value diversity. My grades are a reflection of my work ethic. My appointment to captain of the soccer team is a reflection of my leadership. I know that at school and in soccer, I am not just a number; I am an individual who matters. I have a support system at school and with my teammates. These experiences contributed to who I am today.

   My Catholic high school challenges me to be my best self academically, spiritually, and emotionally. My thirteen years in Catholic schools have provided me the structure, consistency, boundaries, and tenacity to be where I am today. My years on the soccer field have taught me to be part of a team, to make good decisions, and to lead by example. As I begin to launch my college career, I do so knowing that I am very grateful to have been afforded my educational experience and the opportunity to play a sport at a very high level.  Though my next educational venture may or may not require a uniform depending on whether or not play soccer, I will dress myself with the skills and traits I have learned from soccer and Catholic education.   I will begin college expecting to take advantage of every opportunity with an eagerness to master each subject and take on the challenges ahead of me.