Cyrena Bedoian '17 Recruiting Profile

Athletics has always been a part of my life even before I knew what the word athletics meant. From learning to catch and throw a ball to playing organized soccer games on Saturdays, my recesses and weekends were filled with joy. An example of the passion I have for the love of sports took place when I was in sixth grade. My mom started a club volleyball team at my persistent request. The teammates that I gathered, though we have now gone our separate ways, all still hold a special place in my heart. The connections made will always be there. Similarly, athletics, in my opinion, mirrors life in that all the lessons learned on the court or field can be transitioned over into everyday events. Sports have taught me how to balance schoolwork with practices, games, and if there's room, social free time. It has taught me how to work with different levels of players in a way that is best for the whole team. I've learned that unity and trust are some of the most important components of a successful team whether they win or lose. I discovered the greatest lesson there is to learn about competition is that there is a mean, disrespectful side and a respectful/inspirational side, but the best part is that each athlete has the power to choose which side they will perform with. Sports have taught me that everything must be earned. Lastly, I Iearned how to cope with different attitudes and personalities under pressure.

Being a collegiate athlete would impact my future in the same way it had an impact on my grandfather. My grandfather grew up in one of the poorest communities in West Virginia. He knew from an early age that his family could not afford to send him to college. So he pushed himself in school and finished as valedictorian of his class. His drive and work ethic in the classroom was matched by his athletic abilities. Georgia Tech awarded him an athletic and academic scholarship. In college, he worked hard to make good grades and to succeed on the track. He knew failure would send him back to poverty. Being a college athlete allowed him to be a part of something bigger than himself and gave him the opportunity to give back to the school that gave him so much. My grandfather graduated with a Bachelor in Electrical Engineering and Master in Electrical Engineering.  Five years later while working for DuPont as an engineer, he got a Master in Business Administration at West Virginia. His story and his life have always inspired me. If I am fortunate enough to become a collegiate athlete, I would like to follow in my grandfather’s footsteps.