Teresa Lee '19 Recruiting Profile

When reflecting on my personal statement and what I feel made me the person I am today I cannot help but think about the challenges I have had to get to this point. I also realize that those challenges have helped develop my goals and what I would like to achieve in my life.

I started playing soccer at age five and it became apparent to my coaches and my parents that I possessed a unique ability for the sport. I continued to play in America until I was seven years old.  In 2008, my father lost his business and he joined the military and was stationed in Italy. I played soccer in Italy on the army base soccer league, and also practiced with an Italian boys soccer team for the first year. While my dad was deployed to Afghanistan I began competitive gymnastics on an Italian team and competed in regional events. We came back to the States in 2012, and I continued in competitive gymnastics. I knew in my heart that I wanted to play soccer again. When I started the school I am currently attending in 8th grade I tried out for the soccer team. I made the middle school team but also played Varsity when they needed me. It was during this time that other coaches and the Referees began approaching my parents and encouraged me to play Academy Ball. I played for two Academy teams and played in two or three tournaments. I did not want my studies to suffer and the cost of these teams were very expensive so my parents and I decided that I would focus on school and make the most out of the athletics they had to offer.

Calvary Academy is a small Christian school whose sports teams are limited by the mere size of our school. While playing on the Varsity team the past few years I have struggled because our team was limited by our school size. I am happy to say that over the years our team has grown not in size but in heart and in skill. I have been truly blessed to be a part of this team and see how heart and commitment can overcome obstacles. I have learned through my time on this team to overcome the defeats and found that success is not measured by the scoreboard, but by persevering and encouraging my teammates. Our stumbling blocks can truly become our stepping stones.