Dylan Rowley '11 Recruiting Profile

All through high school I?ve had to overcome adversity. Whether in sports or in the classroom, nobody was confident that I would be successful. A novel about Michael Jordan, Playing for Keeps, has inspired me to be the best that I can be in everything that I do. A lot of people know the story of Michael Jordan, he was cut from the basketball team his sophomore year, but then he pushed himself to be the best basketball player of all time. Playing for Keeps was very inspirational to me and taught me many valuable life lessons. Soccer try-outs my freshman year, I was pushed around a lot and nobody thought I would make the team. My parents told me that playing on the JV team would benefit me. During a practice in Playing for Keeps, coach Williams asked Michael Jordan, ?Michael, I thought you wanted to be the best?? Jordan responded by saying, ?Coach, I understand. You?ll see. Watch.? Like Michael Jordan, I used everybody?s doubt as my motivation, and I not only made the team, but became a starter as a freshman. Another sport that I was having trouble with was basketball. The coach wanted me to try out for varsity and he told me it would be tough. I was pushed around and bullied. When I got home I would be throwing-up because I was sick from running so hard at practice. Nobody was ever going to tell me that I couldn?t do something. There was nothing else I could?ve done differently, but I was cut and moved down to JV. Michael Jordan was also cut his sophomore year and moved down to JV, and like Michael Jordan, I took advantage o f the opportunity and proved myself. Finally, I was never good in the classroom growing up, but I strived to do well. My parents were always on my case to start studying and get better grades, but I could never do it. I lost my own confidence, and worked hard from my freshman year until now to do well in class. Now my parents are proud of the performance that I?ve had in the classroom. Not only was I dedicated to get good grades, but some how because I failed so many times in the past, I was motivated. Michael Jordan always went beyond previously accepted limits, and with will power he pushed those limits that much more (Halberstam 417). The fact that people would doubt me, I could never accept. I took everyone?s doubt and pushed my own limits, and I did this time and time again. Whether it is in sports or in the classroom, I am always pushing myself. The story of Michael Jordan in the book Playing for Keeps, was very inspirational to me, and this book also taught me some very valuable life lessons