My Story

“I’ve worked too hard and too long to let anything stand in the way of my goals. I will not let my teammates down and I will not let myself down.” – Mia Hamm

I am an honors student-athlete. I am driven by competition, not against others, only against myself. I am motivated by the idea that I am better today than I was yesterday, but not as great as I will be tomorrow. I believe that the essence of life is growth and only when we stop growing do we begin to die. To grow, we take chances, and that includes not only exploring what is possible within ourselves, but also opening ourselves up to mistakes and the experiences we gain from them. To grow, we must push ourselves a little harder in school, in social settings, at practice, and certainly during games.

I believe in the power of teams. My successes have not come on their own, they are the result of teamwork. I have my family team, my friend teams, my spiritual team, my educational team, and my soccer team. I am personally grateful for all the time and effort so many people have put into helping me reach my goals. I am grateful to each person and every team that has helped me develop into the person I am today.

Throughout my playing career, I have gained insights which have helped me both on and off the field. I have learned that we live in the now and to not get distracted by prior mistakes or the anxiety of the future. I have core beliefs that guide me and keep me grounded. For example, failure only occurs when nothing is learned. I train hard so the games are fun. I study hard so the tests are fun. I do not fear exams for they are the reward for the hard work, much like games. I also own my actions and my inactions. I do not believe in sacrifices; I believe in choices. I do not sacrifice anything, I make conscience choices, choices that move me closer to my goals. To sacrifice is to give up and I do not ever give up, I accomplish.

My high school, Mater Dei, has given me the opportunity to be involved in student leadership as a member of their Scarlet Ambassador commission. Since Mater Dei is a private school, my role as a Scarlet Ambassador is to visit junior high campuses and share the school’s rich traditions and my personal experiences with prospective students. My role does not end with presentations to underclassmen. I frequently work with their parents providing campus tours, sharing stories, and answering their questions about Mater Dei and its student life. My actions impact my school and influence the educational path of others. This is a responsibility I do not take lightly. I approach my work as a Scarlet Ambassador with the intent that my honesty and transparency will help others make the best choice for themselves.

Giving back to the community has been both humbling and spiritually rewarding. While I have received the Daughters of American Revolution Citizenship award and the U.S. Presidential award twice, the true rewards have been being allowed a small role in building a better world for the people within my community. I have spent many hours with neglected children, seniors with Alzheimer’s, and breast cancer patients, but my most cherished times have been with the Down syndrome society. To me, there is no other soul as loving and pure as those with Down Syndrome.

I wish to be respectful of your time and if you feel there is a possible fit for me within your program, please take a few minutes to explore my website, in particular the Frequently Asked Questions page, or better yet, please reach out to me or any of my contacts.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Kate Thoreson

Mater Dei High School, class of 2023

“Courage, sacrifice, determination, commitment, toughness, heart, talent, guts. That’s what little girls are made of; the heck with sugar and spice.” – Bethany Hamilton