Maria Prado '21 Recruiting Profile

Attending University of Texas Medical Branch. August 2021.

In 2018, I was named an All-American Athlete by Team USA Taekwondo, and my profile was published by Team USA.

After winning the National Championships 6 times, earning a silver medal in the Pan-American Open Championships, and being part of the Cadet and Junior USA National Team I discovered something:

I can run and I love it!

I started running in 7^th and 8^th grade as part of my taekwondo training. Both years, we won the 4x400 District Championships. Despite not being able to run varsity in 9^th grade because I was a school transfer, I kept my enthusiasm working with my JV team.

I love being part of a real team; I love to fight against my own records, which is better than fighting another human being all the time! I love having only one judge deciding if I win or not: the chronometer. Traveling for international competitions with the National Team and on my own was fun, but it was not healthy for my academic success. I want to be an elite student before an elite athlete.

Many times, I was not the tallest, the fastest, or the favorite athlete but I always found a way to win.

I have learned that through hard, smart and consistent work, I can extend my skills and cover my gaps. Working and mastering the fundamentals of the sport is my favorite part.

One of my favorite quotes is: What I lack in talent, I compensate with my willingness to grind it out. That's the secret of my life. 

Guy Kawasaki

https://www.teamusa.org/usa-taekwondo/athletes/Maria-Prado

https://www.facebook.com/pasadenaisd/videos/not-your-average-kid-phs-freshman-wins-gold-in-israel/1780048232028897/