Jillian Johnson '21 Recruiting Profile

Thank you for taking the time to review my profile.  I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you a little bit about myself.  I am the kind of person who never shies away from a challenge.  I like to set goals and work hard to achieve them.  I think that is why I enjoy water polo so much.  It is a team sport that encourages us to set team goals and work hard to achieve them.  In order for us to do our best as a team, we have to communicate well with one another and collaborate to win games.  Not every player on the team has the same strengths and abilities but if we communicate well, support one another, and strive to be our collective best, we can achieve our goals of winning games. 

My love for the sport of water polo developed as I watched my older brother play the sport.  I would watch his games and wish that I could join in on the fun.  Once I was old enough, I joined our park district water polo team.  We didn't always have enough girls to form a team, but thankfully I was permitted to play on the co-ed team.  Water polo has taught me how to work well with my team members to become the best athlete I can be.  The joy of supporting one another while we work to defeat another team has been very rewarding and humbling at the same time.  For the games that we won, and the games we lost, I learned that important lessons about perseverance and fortitude that have helped me to become the student athlete that I am. 

I aspire to use my collegiate experience to help me with my educational experiences both in and out of the classroom.  If I am fortunate to be able to  compete at the collegiate level, I plan to bring my willingness to learn, my determination to set goals and my skills to work to achieve these goals.  I aspire to be a good teammate who can develop lifelong friendships with my teammates and support them as we combine our efforts to strengthen our team.  I hope to be able to represent my college as a hard-working athlete who always maintains a positive attitude and a can-do spirit.

Academically, I aspire to major in either education or psychology.  I enjoy helping others and I see these two majors as great opportunities to learn how to help others attain their psychological or educational goals.  I am committed to using my collegiate experience to embrace the values of being a student athlete, someone who takes their academics seriously, devotes time to studying and learning, while also challenging myself to be a strong athletic competitor.  I believe that my college experience can only be enriched by balancing my love of water polo and my love of learning.

In closing, I would like you to know that I am someone who is excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.  I would bring an energy and enthusiasm to a collegiate team.  I would bring a desire to work hard and help elevate our team through my supportive nature and my competitive drive.  I would bring to the university an ability to represent the school with respect and strive to embrace the ideals and values of the team and the school.  I would bring a positive attitude, one that does not let disappointments get me down, but instead, lifts me up and gives me opportunities to grow.  I would bring a desire to receive an education that prepares me to make a mark on the young lives that I hope to touch as a psychologist or an educator. 

I appreciate you taking the time to read my personal statement.  I hope to have the opportunity to meet with you in the near future to discuss the possibilities of being a student athlete at your school.

Sincerely,

Jillian Johnson