Luke G McConnell

By being so involved in my community and school, there have been many opportunities for me to take on leadership roles. Whether on the pitch or in the classroom, I'll always take a chance to be the one that steps up to be the go-to guy. As as sophomore on the varsity soccer team I was named the captain of the team. While being one of the youngest on the team, I stepped up to lead the senior players and the rest of the team to a first place finish in the season. Having a first year coach and being the captain, our coach often refereed to me for advice on strategies, players and opposition. With almost the same team from the previous year where we finished fifth and lost in the opening round of play-offs, I was able to convert several players into larger key roles and as result we went from 7 points to 17 points as well coming 3rd in the provincial qualifiers. I know that being named captain of the team wasn't the sole reason for our improvement. Having a new coach and a few things fall our way were key but by having a leadership role on this team, I was able to step up and contribute more than just my athletic ability. I could add my leadership. Off the field I try to be as good a leader as I am on it. One of the ways for me to do this by taking on responsibilities when ever I can. As a junior this year I was asked to be one of only a selected few to be student ambassadors for the school. Our role would to help new students feel comfortable, sharing news about the school and just being a student than others can come to for advice or to talk to. Having this role, I was put into many situations where I had to show my leadership skills. I have been a role model to many of the younger students and have built many relationships. In one case I noticed that a younger student was always by himself and he didn't seem to talk to many people. Being a student ambassador, I approached the student and started a conversation. Now a couple months later, we are friends and talk everyday. I share my story with others and try to encourage my classmates to do the same. Simple but important acts such as this are what makes a leader. Having the courage and the will to make a difference are the things that separate the followers from the leaders. This is something I keep in my mind. Do I want to be a follower or do I want to be a leader?

To me "healthy athletic performance" is finding the right balance. On the field, the weight room, the classroom and with your friends. There are many things that contribute to a good performance come match day and they are all equally important. If you try to sacrifice one for the other, the rest will be affected. Striving for health athletic performance, you must take care of your body and your mind. I am always looking to find that perfect balance between my athletics, education and my (almost non existent) social life. This means that I must eat well and get plenty of quality sleep. These things are important to maintaining a high level of performance. Also in your pursue of health athletic performance you have to know what to stay away from. You need to pin point the negative parts in life and either fix them or remove them from your life. While I would like to focus entirely on my athletics, I know that balance is key to finding that "healthy athletic performance".

Sports are not everything in life. At times it may seem that sports are at the center of the universe but this is not the way it is. They can be of high importance but we need to remember the most important things in life, such as our family, being good citizens and enjoying everyday while being grateful for what we have. By living my life like this I always am trying to do what I can to lend a helping hand. Whether it's volunteer work, being involved in community events or just being a positive member of the neighborhood, I like to make a difference. I've been an active member of the community while balancing my schooling and athletics. I have been a volunteer for three years at the Road To Hope marathon in Hamilton as well as the Old Mill Road Race the past couple years. Volunteering at events such the local soccer day, our high school triathlon, and provincial road cycling races makes me feel good that I can do more than just play a sport or go to school. I am also a "snow angel" for the Snow Angels program in Hamilton. I am assigned houses to remove snow from the drive ways of elderly people. This is important to me because I have grandparents that struggle to remove snow from their house so by volunteering for this program, I am helping people that can use a little assistance. On top of the volunteer work, I am grade representative on our schools student council and am an executive member of our schools Boys Athletic Association (BAA). Being a part of these committees helps me have a say on the things that go on in our school. I want to be able to contribute what I can so I can make my school as good as it possible can be. While one of the most important parts of my life is my soccer career, I realize that there are other things that must also take priority. To me, helping others and being a responsible citizen are one of those priorities,