Emily Bardwell

I want to be a part of something bigger than myself that will allow me to grow as a student-athlete and overall person. I believe my leadership, dedication, and perseverance make me someone who will improve the team both on and off the track.

I am a natural leader in and out of sports settings. For example, at the beginning of the season, we had many new runners and I immediately introduced myself and made the new runners feel welcome. While many of the upperclassmen paid little attention to the new runners, I did not hesitate to jump in and show the newbies what cross-country is all about. I showed them all of the stretches and activities we do in the weight room to make sure they started their season right. Even now whenever I see someone using a training technique incorrectly, I take it upon myself to step in and teach them the correct way.

I am also a leader in a non-sports environment. I am the president of the Spanish club at my school, which means I am responsible for numerous activities such as scheduling monthly meetings and coming up with new ideas for the club like fundraising. Since I have taken this role, the Spanish club has had better communication and the meetings have been more organized as a result of my careful planning.

As a student-athlete, I take my health extremely seriously. I make sure to eat right because I am aware of how food can affect my performance short and long term. As a member of HUDDLE, an anti-drug program at my school, I am very conscious of the effects of substance abuse and I have never used or plan to use drugs, smoke or drink alcohol.

I strive to reach my full potential as an athlete and I am always looking for healthy ways to improve my performance such as getting more sleep, eating whole foods, and staying hydrated. I have very high expectations of myself and performance, and I would never let unhealthy activity get in the way of achieving my goals.

I am involved in many different service clubs in my community including:

• HUDDLE, a program where I teach 5th graders around my community about the dangers of drugs/alcohol and help them to achieve a better future;

• LINK Crew, a program where I help incoming freshmen become comfortable with high school by touring them around the building, doing fun activities, and keeping in touch with them throughout the school year;

• VOFT, a program that includes various volunteer opportunities such as Safety Town and Special Olympics;

• NHS, a program where I spend hours serving the community through large service projects with the club as well as smaller types of service like tutoring my peers.

Although it is sometimes challenging to balance school, sports and community services, I believe service is very important for becoming a well-rounded individual and giving back to the community. It is easy to get caught up in sports or school and forget what is most important in life. Service allows me to take a step back and appreciate the life I have while giving back to others who may not be as fortunate as I am.