Cassidy Hooper '15 Recruiting Profile

            My life has been filled with people attempting to hold me back including myself, my friends, and people I do not know. As a result, I have come to the conclusion that I should always encourage myself to be push through any obstacle and to be the best person possible. This aphorism has motivated me to become the scholar, athlete, and person that I am today.  

When I was 7 years old, I broke my left foot which induced the arch in it to cave in. When this happens, it causes the foot to become flat. Having a flat foot has caused me to develop multiple injuries in the past that have cut many of my running seasons at Citrus Valley High short. However, even though these injuries took me out of the season and made me have the mindset that I could never become a proficient runner, I have still progressed and have made a huge leap from my first day at practice as a freshman. For example, during my junior year, I was on Varsity Track and Field. At one of the seasonal meets, I broke the school record for the 800M. Being able to run on Varsity Cross Country and Track, having a flat foot, and being able to break records has shown me that I can accomplish more then I think I can.

As well as being involved in sports at my high school, I am also very passionate about Karate. As a child, my parents made the decision to sign me up for Karate classes so that they could have peace of mind about my security and well-being. Since then, I have acquired my junior black belt and am currently working towards my adult black belt. Through these classes, I was not only taught how to defend myself, but was equipped with valuable lessons on humility, determination, and perseverance. These lessons have given me the determination to do well in school, the perseverance to stick to the goals I set for myself and the humility to not boast about the accomplishments I achieve.

Even though I have ran Varsity Cross Country and Track for most of high school, does not mean I was good at the other sports I wanted to do. Making the soccer team had been a major goal of mine when I was in Junior High School. When I made the team my freshman year, I was overjoyed. By the time my sophomore year came around, I was confident that I would have the ability to make it on the team again. However, because the Cross Country season ran later for me, I had to try out after everyone else when the teams had already been selected. This put a tremendous amount of pressure on me because, by this time, the teams were already practicing which meant I would be trying out in front of them. Needless to say, the tryout did not go as I had planned. The shin splints that had developed in my legs from Cross Country were making it hard to run, the soccer coach was critiquing my every move, and the players were looking at me as if I was a fish out of water. Although it was a major setback, not making the soccer team allowed me to focus on my running career. It pushed me to get better and, as a result, I was able to be a varsity runner and for that I am thankful.

Furthermore, I was a part of Link Crew my junior and senior year. Link Crew is a club for juniors and seniors to join and work with the incoming freshman to make their transition into high school easier. Each Link Leader is assigned a group of freshman that they mentor and remain in touch with throughout the school year. Link Crew has helped to become more outgoing and as built my confidence in speaking in front of crowds. Being involved in school has blessed me with lasting relationships with great people. They have kept me busy and made me less stressed about the hours of homework I have each night.

From the moment I was born, there was never a time where I did not have a pet. As a result of animals having a major influence on my life, I am aspiring to become a veterinarian. In an effort to gain experience working with animals, I am presently volunteering at the Riverside Animal Shelter. As a volunteer, I am able to socialize with the dogs and cats, assist with adoptions, and create a lovable environment for the animals to live in. The experiences that I have encountered while volunteering have allowed me to love and understand animals more than I have ever before.

Academically, I currently hold a 4.0 GPA and am taking 4 AP classes this year. These rigorous classes that I have assigned to myself have shown me how to manage time efficiently and how to handle multiple obligations at once without becoming overwhelmed. My talent in academics has allowed me to be a Scholar Athlete for my entire high school career. By taking school seriously and getting the education I need, I have come to appreciate the importance of earning good grades and how they can affect your future.