Zariah McKenzie-Pierce '21 Recruiting Profile

I am just a 14 year-old gym rat. Playing basketball is not only a sport for me, but also a way to regain focus from the day-to-day challenges. Whenever I play, it is as if nothing else matters. Being able to have fun and do what I love is very important to me. Playing basketball in college has always been my dream since I was a little girl and hopefully one day that dream comes true. Being apart of athletics has affected me in a positive way throughout my life so far. It has taught me how to work hard, be confident, and be the best version of myself. Working hard is a major part of who I am on and off the court. I feel that success only comes when you work hard, which has caused me to always be better than the day before. Playing basketball for my entire life has also truly taught me to gain confidence in who I am. My coaches always told me when you're not confident in yourself,and don't trust yourself, neither will your teammates. In life you always have to prove yourself, and you can't do that without confidence. Lastly, athletics has made me who I am today. It has taught me how to make great long lasting relationships, and be the best student I can be.To become a collegiate student athlete would be one of my biggest dreams, and it would help me prevail in the future. First, being an athlete in college means I get to continue to play the sport that I fell in love with when I was just five years old. Also, like I said before being an athlete makes me push myself harder on and off the court, which this would then continue into college, and later years. Next, being a collegiate athlete would also affect the decisions I make, and how I would respond to certain situation. Lastly, being a college athlete would allow me to make friends, establish great relationships, and teach me how to manage my time. My friends always tell me being a student athlete is one of the hardest things in life, but i'm up for that challenge. I strive to achieve challenges, and hope that I get a chance to face this one.