Kristina Atkinson '20 Recruiting Profile

    I have been playing sports since I was four years old. I began with soccer, and played recreational league until my 8th grade year. In 8th grade, I made my middle school's soccer team, and I'm proud to say that we had a 9-2-2 record, and placed second in our district. During that season, I grew as an athlete by learning what real commitment is, pushing past my limits, and being a valuable asset to my team. Meanwhile, I also participated in my school district's cheerleading teams. I was on the middle school squad during 7th grade, freshman squad during 8th grade, junior varsity during 9th grade, and Varsity during 10th grade.  Although cheerleading is often looked over as a sport, it taught me how to be strong, how to persevere, and how to keep a positive attitude when the world is crashing down around me. During my cheerleading career, I had the privilege to be a part of a competition squad which 80% of the athletes were new to competition, suffered injuries to almost every person, and had to adapt to injuries every single week. Nevertheless, that particular squad was an award winning squad that preformed a routine that won 4th place at the regional competition less than 24 hours after changing the entire routine, and adding a new person.  In addition to the previously listed teams, I participated in outdoor track my freshman year, and completely fell in love with the sport. My events included high jump, pole vault, long jump, the 200 meter, and the 100 meter. This year, and all the remaining years of my athletic career, I will be a part of every track team that is available to me. I plan to focus on high jump, pole vault, and the 200 meter. I will no longer be a part of any other sport because after experiencing my first track season, I felt at home. It was as if all of the things that I had learned in previous years finally came together. I am fully committed to being the best that I can be, and helping my team earn points at meets. 

    In addition to all of my athletic efforts, I have always been a high achieving student. I do not allow my training to interfere with my schoolwork. I have been taking advanced courses since 6th grade, and I actually enjoy the workload. I strive in most subjects, and when I have difficulties with topics, I always find a way to figure it out, and move on. I have only gotten one "B" in my whole life, and I received it in Pre-AP Geometry my 8th grade year. The rest of my grades have always been "A's" , so I began high school with a GPA that exceeded a 4.0. I plan to earn my doctorate, and become a psychiatrist, and I wish to specialize in adolescents with eating disorders and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. I wish to someday create a drug-free treatment for people with mental health disorders that revolves around a fitness lifestyle.  I am fully committed to my goal, and I will never cease to learn new things so that I will be the absolute best that I can be. 

    I believe that I would be a valuable asset to a college track team because I have highly specific goals, I am determined, self-motivated, and very eager to become better each and every day. Also, I am stable in regards to my grades and mind set. I have a very determined personality and I have never given myself the option to fail. I always do everything in my power to reach my goals. I have never, nor will I ever quit anything. No matter what life throws at me, I will face adversity with courage and preserver which I believe sets me apart from my peers.