Personal Statement

My name is Helena Crate, and I am from Manchester, Massachusetts. I attend Pingree School in South Hamilton, Massachusetts, and will graduate in 2024 and have a 3.7 GPA. My favorite subjects are math, science, and Chinese. I am an honors student and excited to be in honors Physics and Pre-Calc next year. I recently completed a Sports Medicine and Cancer Research course from Wake Forest.

I have played soccer most of my life and want to play in college. I play for Pingree Girls Varsity soccer and NEFC. My club team is the NEFC NS ‘06DPL. I am an attacking and defensive midfielder. 

The Pingree Girls Varsity soccer team is one of the strongest in New England. We recently won the NEPSAC Class B title and our record was 22-2-1. I was the starting defensive midfielder and played an average of 70-80 minutes per game. I was also elected to be a team captain for the 2023-24 season.

My NEFC team was the New England Regional Champion in 2021, and the team had the opportunity to compete for a National Championship in Colorado. In March of 2022, we traveled to Jefferson Cup in Richmond and went undefeated. This helped my team achieve the #1 ranking in our age group in Massachusetts. The rankings are not perfect but we are consistently in the top 5.

My NEFC team competes in the Development Player League, a national league connected to the Girls Academy, and in 2021 also had the opportunity to compete for a DPL National Championship in California. In 2022, our team won our region and traveled to Dallas to compete for a National title.

Outside soccer and school, I practice the piano and have played and recorded music since I was young. Before Pingree, I attended Brookwood School in Manchester. I live with my father, stepmother, two step-sisters, and a few dogs.

For the last three years, I have been the leading fundraiser for the NEFC Giving auction. I have worked hard at raising money because I believe in giving back to those in need. I also raise money for stop3.org, an organization to support brain tumor patients. My mother passed away from a brain tumor in 2014. It is important to me that others gain more knowledge about brain tumors. One day, I hope to study neurology to make a difference, so others do not have to have the same experience that I have had.

My experiences have shaped me into the person that I am today. I am a hard worker, care about others and always strive to do my best.