Personal Statement

Newark is the city built upon broken homes, broken communities, and broken dreams. For many, sports seem like the only way out. The city where rent is too high and makes single parent households barely able to afford food. Teenagers dying before they even graduate that have the potential to do great things but out Where I’m from, the only way to make it out is sports. Newark is the city built upon broken homes, communities, and violence. You have to constantly look over your shoulder and move cautiously. Teenagers dying before they even graduate that actually could’ve gone far but our system is so broken and failing us. There’s nothing here for anybody wanting to stay but for me, football will be my way of escaping this broken city. 

I’ve always been the quiet, laid-back type, watching everything and everyone around me but always having little to say. I figured this was the best way to stay out of trouble. Living in an urban city, I was exposed to a lot of trauma – gun violence, drug addicts, gang activity, friends losing their life to senseless violence, etc. Oftentimes, people feel the only way to get away from negativity is to relocate. At the start of my fifth grade year, my father and I moved to Georgia. He grew tired of having to constantly watch his surroundings and had the desire to be in a safe environment. My father and I grew very close and he played a vital role in my development into my teenage years. A few years later, I moved back to New Jersey, now away from my father. This idea of a “broken family”, not having both parents in one home, was now my reality and formed a lot of resentment. 

While I can never erase the values that my father instilled in me during our time of being in the same house, I felt the pressure of needing to “man up” and find a way to release the anger and resentment that brewed inside of me. Football became my outlet. Every night on the field, I gave it my all. Playing football allowed me to feel connected to my father and provided a positive way to channel my anger instead of letting it manifest negatively. My father and I shared a strong bond through sports. He was there every step of the way until my high school years, when we lived in different states. Playing the game reminds me of him and makes me feel closer to him. His presence kept me level-headed whenever I made mistakes or felt I wasn’t giving my best. His absence during high school made me realize how much I missed that support. 

My father’s absence throughout my high school career really has taught me resilience and the importance of looking forward. In the future, I hope to play football at your university and pursue a professional career. I made a promise to myself to rise above the challenges in my community, where many young people feel drawn to the streets as if it’s their only option. I want to show my family and other kids from Newark that there’s another path, one that leads to success and fulfillment.