Personal Statement

***Update:  September 2020 I had life-altering spinal surgery that ended my football journey.

As of August 2021, I have made the Varsity Golf team and hope to continue with it through college.***

I hope to obtain a bachelor degree in Wildlife Biology/Science or  Business, and to continue to play football while working towards this goal. I believe I am a good candidate for a collegiate team, because I have the drive, motivation, and heart to succeed in the classroom, in my community, and on the field.

My journey has been very different than any other candidates. I have faced challenges through most of my life, and will continue to bring awareness to those challenges well into my future. From October 2014-October 2017, I have undergone 10 major surgeries, 17 lumbar punctures, and my freshman year was my first season back after recovery. I was born with an Arnold Chiari Malformation type 2, which led to syringomyelia that left me with a syrinx the entire length of my spine, and also led to my idiopathic scoliosis.

I had occipital decompression surgery at the age of 10, a revision 1 month later, a lumbar peritoneal shunt placed in March of 2015 (that quit working), a ventricular peritoneal shunt placed, 4 VP shunt revisions, anterior scoliosis surgery in July 2017, and a revision that led to posterior scoliosis surgery.  My spinal cord had begun to tether, onset of some paralysis had begun, I almost lost my sight to papilledema, I didn't know if I would still be able to walk. At the lowest point, I almost gave up. My mom was afraid that I would not make it back home from the hospital, and that is when Pastor Matt and my teammates stepped in.

Football is a brotherhood. I want to be a part of that brotherhood for as long as I can. Football saved my life, and I am willing to put in 1000000% to pursue my collegiate student athlete career.