Natasha Kwiatkowski '22 Recruiting Profile

Hello, my name is Natasha Kwiatkowski and I am going into my senior year at Cibola High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  I started running competitively in sixth grade for my middle school team.  Since I have started, I have practically competed in every event possible at a meet (with a few exceptions of course.)  I enjoy running for the following reasons:  stress relief, physical health, enjoyment and the many relationships I have built over the years on my team.  Since starting high school as a freshman, I have broadened my experience in running by adding Cross Country to my repertoire.  I have learned to challenge both my mind and body.   During the pandemic, I consistently ran on my own, even through online education, to keep myself challenged despite not being able to compete.   Throughout my running experience I have learned that I am capable of much more than I would have thought.  I would absolutely love to continue to compete in college because of all the ways that I have grown throughout my four years in High School athletics, including the friendships that I have made.  As a runner, I enjoy hitting the open road with all its opportunities and seeing where it will take me.   I view college athletics as an adventure with many possibilities.  

Why should you choose me to be apart of your team?  First of all, I am an extremely dedicated person to both academics and athletics.  I bring a strong work ethic to any activity that I do.  Some unique background information about me is that I am a member of the New Mexico 4-H program.  If you do not know, 4-H is the largest youth organization in the world.   Many of the leadership and community service skills that I have learned from being in 4-H for 11 years is applicable to many of the activities in my life.   Another experience that has shaped who I am is my identity as a musician.  I play the flute, piccolo and trumpet.  I am currently a member of the Albuquerque Youth Symphony and I have recently been selected to the position of Drum Major for the Cibola Golden Regiment Marching Band for the 2021-2022 school year. It is very important to me that I continue my musical endeavors into my college years.  Lastly, I am a lifelong Equestrian (horseback rider) and would love to compete at the collegiate level, in Equestrian Sports, if the opportunity should arise.  

Here is a little bit about my collegiate goals and aspirations.  First off, academics is a top priority for me.  I want to be a part of a rigorous academic college environment.  I want to "level up" my brain power by being around people who are smarter than I am.   By the end of my college career I want to be highly employable, so I am extremely motivated to give it my all.  I want to be around people who take their coursework seriously and that is why I enjoyed my AP classes so much.  What am I looking for in a college running environment?  I am looking for teammates who are serious about running and coaches who are motivating, challenging, and inspiring.  I thrive within a tight knit community, a trusting environment, and open communication with coaches and teammates.  My ideal college setting is an intellectual hub of running geeks and book nerds :D.   I am interested in the following Majors: History, Political Science, Environmental Science, and Music. 

The last details I would like to add are:  I run competitively at 5,315 feet above sea level;  I currently run in a mask at this level (state orders); and my Spring semester 2020 grades were all converted to "P/F" as the pandemic began and Albuquerque Public Schools went to an online only format, beginning  March 2020  and lasting until March 2021, when students were finally allowed to return to in person, if they chose to do so.

Thank you for taking time to read my personal statement.  I look forward to talking to you soon!