Personal Statement

Vince Lombardi once said;  “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can achieve excellence.”  My name is Garrett W. Graves, I am a freshman high school football player chasing perfection, but it is my passion, determination and competitive spirit that motivates me to achieve excellence.

I am a starting freshman defensive back (cornerback) at Nevada Union High School, in Grass Valley California, a D-1 school, and I have been playing football for eight years. I discovered my passion for football at the age of five, but at that time I was barely 30 lbs. and still in a booster car seat.  For two long years I anxiously waited until I reached the leagues weight limit and finally began playing at the age of seven.

During these eight years of contact football, I have participated in numerous competitions at the junior level, currently in the high school level, and was also selected several times to play at a national level with Team USA, and Football University. (USA Football U-15 Development Games 2013, 2014.  USA Football International Bowl U-16,  2015 and 2016, and with  Football University Top Gun 2014, and in the Football University Eastbay Bowl  2015).

In support of our community,  I have volunteered as an assistant coach for our youth football league for three seasons.

Away from the field, I put sufficient effort in class work to ensure that I become an all-rounded person. My G.P.A at the moment is 3.5 and improving.  During my Junior year, I plan on taking the SAT, and after doing so will then be able to apply for eligibility with the NCAA.

Apart from football, I am also a baseball player, a wrestler and a track runner. To ensure that I remain fit for play at the most competitive level, I train for agility and speed on a daily basis, lift weights and eat a nutritious diet consisting of protein supplements and vitamins. I am proud to say I have never used, and never will use recreational drugs or illegal performance enhancing substances. This is because I intend to maintain a lifelong healthy and active lifestyle through my engagement in sports.

My pillars of support are my teammates and family. I consider myself outgoing,  with a good sense of humor.  My desire is to gain admission to a college that will allow me to pursue academics as well as continue to play football.  My ideal course of study would be to major in Business, Sports/Athletic Management, or Marketing.

As a STUDENT I will succeed because I know where I am going. As an ATHLETE, with my consistency, persistence in training and remaining passionate about football, I will continue to develop each time I set foot on the field.  As a STUDENT-ATHLETE I will continue to chase perfection.

Sincerely,
Garrett W. Graves