Storm Wright '21 Recruiting Profile

Every day I ever thought and overanalyzed everything: was me introducing myself properly? Did I just say “hi” awkwardly? Why didn’t they say “hi” back?

I believed that my anxiety would disappear when I entered high school; that’s when maturity should have been on my side. This was not at all the case. Seeing a group of people I didn’t know, scared me. I feared embarrassing myself and simple actions felt impossible whether asking for directions to the bathroom or saying ‘Good Morning’ - my arm suddenly felt as if it weighed a ton and my lips felt like they were glued together. I constantly feared judgement and criticism of the way I walked, talked, and even ate. 

What made my transition worse was that I had to balance it with the death of my aunt, a person who was never afraid of showing who she was. My aunt's state laying on a hospital bed fighting cancer was in direct opposition to who she was. She was the person who encompassed what I wanted to radiate: confidence. I still remember her at the family barbeque socializing, laughing, and interacting. She was effortless and I couldn't even get myself to answer my peers’ simple questions. Though she continued to lay in bed with various tubes filling her mouth, incoherent to the outside world, I still envisioned her eyes opening, getting out of the hospital gown, and walking out of the hospital to interact with all of us again. No matter how hard I cried, how loud, I prayed, it didn’t become a reality.

I wish I had her confidence from our barbeque socializing in school. I wish I could just go up to people and talk to them and make them laugh.

My aunt’s death toward the end of my sophomore year represented a new beginning for me-I knew I could never fill her shoes, but pushing myself out of my comfort zone was a way to honor her.

By my 11th grade year I was determined to grow my confidence. First, I set milestone goals where I aimed to either compliment someone, have a conversation with classmates, or to start a conversation with a stranger. Some days I succeeded, others I reverted back to my shell but learned to not make it a habit. I even watched motivational videos for tips. Slowly, I realized I needed a bigger challenge so I leveraged an activity that had been a part of my life for a while: track. 

I began running track in 2014, back in 5th grade. Through my training, I enjoyed the growth I experienced and welcomed compliments with open arms. Spring of 9th grade, I was declared the PCSAA 400 Meter Champion. I felt on top of the world, no, out of this world. But the track was more of a solitary sport, so I searched for one that would push me socially. I found two: lacrosse and soccer. Through the sports I played, I honed my skills, expanded them, gained clarity about myself and even became friends with my teammates. I had to talk to them if I wanted to be a good teammate. Conversations about where to stand, who had the ball, turned into conversations about our weekend plans and our favorite foods. Participating in team sports allowed me to do what my aunt did - become more social.

Sports have boosted my endurance not only physically, but also mentally and spiritually. I tackle difficult situations with the aggressiveness I use in Lacrosse. I have leveraged the confidence I have inside track to speak to my peers. Lastly, I have been able to transfer the trust I have with my teammates to others and solidified friendships. I am responsible, confident, and independent, thanks to the values I learned playing sports and finally learned the indirect lesson that my aunt taught me: “Be strong and live because you only have one life.”