Personal Statement

Hello College Coaches,

Please read the following statement and watch my highlight videos to learn more about me as a person and a player.  Regarding my videos, it is important to know that I was out the first part of the season of fall 2022 due to injury.  When I came back,  I mainly played holding midfield (main position is attacking) and the 6, because my coach had no other player to cover holding midfield.  So, if you have time, I have posted 2021 videos to see more playmaking/attacking/ in the attacking midfield (main position) and center forward.

My future goal is to become a physician’s assistant and eventually a doctor,  so my major will be in a health science related field like kinesiology or biology.  I finished my junior fall semester with a weighted GPA of 4.2, unweighted 4.0, and I have an overall GPA for high school of 3.9. I will be taking the SAT soon. I believe that I will qualify for both merit and need based scholarships. I am registered with the NCAA, and my ID number is 2302774891.

I have been playing competitive soccer  for 9 years at LAFC So Cal (previously Real So Cal) in Woodland Hills, CA.  Along with playing girls club (ECNL-RL), I also played competitive boys soccer from the ages of 10 to 14. The reason I was in the boys league is because I have an aggressive and physical style of play, and I fit in well on boys teams when I was younger for this reason. Also, I wanted to be challenged and thought the boys would be tougher, but I learned that boys are not tougher than girls and me. However, I really liked playing in the boys leagues as a starting attacking/center midfielder, and I felt valued there by my teammates and coaches and made a lot of friends. I acted as captain and talked a lot on the field, and the boys counted on me to bring energy to the games. One thing coaches should know about me is that I will either settle and refocus my team or bring intensity to the game when needed.  So while I am considered aggressive, I am also a very skilled, focused,  and controlled player.  How I play depends on the game. Also, I respect my opponents and have good sportsmanship. I won the sportsmanship award in high school freshman year.

My main position is attacking/center  midfield, and I’ve always been a starter on all my teams. My other main position is center forward. I can trap long balls at my feet, and I am comfortable playing with my back to goal to help my teammates out, so I am a good target player. But, I am also a true playmaker, so I sometimes drop back and  play a false 9 when my coach needs me to help gain possession of the ball and make plays in the final 3rd. I also play a 6 and sometimes the 5. I have defensive skills, but I mostly defend higher on the field, and this is what sets me apart from other attacking players. Despite winning MVP sophomore year for being the top goal scorer, I am a true playmaker. My teammates and coaches count on me to gain possession of the ball through tackles and winning airballs and then to play the ball. I get the ball, and then I send the ball. Also, I do not back down from 1 v 1 challenges. I am also very comfortable with the ball at my feet. I do not get frazzled and can hold and shield the ball to allow teammates to make runs. I do not really have a dominate foot. I utilize both my feet for most skills. I like possession style soccer.

The most important thing any college coach should understand about me is that what sets me apart from other players and what gives me my edge is most definitely my mentality. I have a reputation for being a confident and relentless player, but people don’t completely get why I am this way. Because I know that I am personally responsible for my own success and believe that I can and will achieve my  goals, there are no limits for me. I also really want to be the best at whatever it is I am doing, and I do not doubt my abilities to do so. Also, because I am a hard-working athlete who picks up on new skills quickly, I know that I will always continue to get better. I want to prove to myself that I can overcome challenges and win. This is very rewarding to me.  I am also a martial artist. My mindset helps me when I am sparring (karate fighting) bigger and stronger opponents. I approach the fight with the expectation that I will defeat my opponent, and as a result I often do. I will be testing for my black belt in spring of 2024 before I graduate high school. I also run track and like surfing.  

Finally, coaches should know that the win/loss record of the team is not my main concern. My main concern is my own impact on a team and what I can do for a team. I want college coaches to know that being in a positive environment is what matters most to me. I get my satisfaction from being challenged, by being a supportive teammate, by being an impact player, and by being a leader on my team. I always strive to do my very best and to be a gamechanger. I want to grow and develop with my team. Of course, I want to win, but whether or not we win or lose, we do it together as a team.

Thank you for reading this. Unfortunately, I am unable to attend a lot of ID camps. My soccer schedule is available on the ECNL-RL website under the Southwest section under LAFC So Cal Youth RL G06 team. My coach is Ariel Felman. Please contact me if you plan to go to a game.  

Thank you!

Serena Sanders