College Admissions Essay: A Career As An Athlete

As a student and an athlete, I am a competitor. I always strive to be at the top of my class and the best in my sport. I am willing to put in however much work it takes to get to the top. Likewise, Lehigh aims to be the best. By working to provide the best opportunities, best education, and best experience, Lehigh is willing to put in the work needed to be considered a top university. Lehigh also has its rivals. The university's famous rivalry with Lafayette shows the schools competitive spirit one-on-one. Aiming to beat Lafayette in everything from academics to athletics to campus lifestyle, Lehigh's rivalry is what helps push it to be its best. Similarly, my personal rivalries push me to excel. In the classroom, I have been in a friendly rivalry with a good friend of mine. Constantly flipping between being ranked first and second in the class motivates me to get the highest grades I can.
Whether its guarding someone in basketball or getting into the batter's box against a pitcher in baseball, aiming to win every small battle is what leads to long-term success. However, being a student and an athlete, I have strong teamwork skills. Whether its working on a group project in class or having team chemistry on the court, being able to work with others is one of the key characteristics that defines me. The collaborations between students at Lehigh parallels the teamwork required in my life. Students must work together if they want to succeed. In the real world, no one is working alone. No one is doing everything by themselves. Teamwork is needed to succeed at Lehigh as well. No one has to do it on their own. As a student and an athlete, I have many characteristics that define me. Whether its my competitive spirit or my ability to work in a team, I have many traits in common with Lehigh University and the student body within