INTENTION LETTER
Dear Sir,
I am writing this to convey my interest in attending your high school. I have had an unbelievable journey spurred on by my love for hockey and my desire to achieve academic greatness.
Hockey has played a central role in my life since I first tied my skates. Within a year, at the age of seven, I travelled to the Czech Republic with my Turkish ice hockey team for a winter camp. The Czech coaches noticed a huge potential in me and approached me about joining their team. This was a pivotal moment in my life; I wanted to train and compete at a higher level and my intense passion for hockey led me to accept the offer two years later. I consider myself incredibly fortunate in that my family believed in me and supported me even if it meant that we would be separated for most of the next seven years because only my mother moved with me to the Czech Republic. Of course, there were difficulties and extreme challenges that came with this life changing adventure such as: embracing a different culture, learning new languages (English and Czech), facing discrimination, leaving behind my family, friends and home. However, facing and dealing with these challenges at a very young age has given me a lot of life lessons and characteristics including resilience, adaptability, and a broadened perspective on the world. Furthermore, hockey has taught me: discipline, teamwork, and the ability to perform well under pressure. These traits are reflected in both my academic and athletic development. Despite the language barrier I experienced in my first years, I have consistently strived for academic success while balancing a heavy training schedule. As a result, I have managed to earn mostly A’s with occasional B’s.
Hockey helped me develop leadership and collaboration skills, which make my natural inclination to be a helpful person more effective. I have engaged in various volunteer activities, including planning programs for the earthquake-affected in Turkey, showing my commitment to making a positive impact. While initially intending to organize a supply drive with a teacher, our schedules became extremely busy making it not possible to happen. However, my parents and I found an alternative way to provide assistance. I also actively participated in the Rybka Garden project- a project intended to convert a neglected area into a peaceful park for the elderly people to enjoy. I collaborated with friends to clear overgrown areas, we cut wood, and I also willingly undertook tasks others avoided. Additionally, when a friend faced discrimination, I stood by them and told the person who was making racist comments to stop; when they did not I addressed the issues with the principal who not only solved the problem but also raised awareness in our school. I hope to continue to grow the ability to have a beneficial influence on those around me.
One of my proudest achievements is receiving the Player of the Tournament award in the U18 national team tournament as the youngest player. I also take pride in finishing fifth in the top Czech league among a hundred fiftynine players. Looking ahead, my aspirations include attending a reputable college in the United States, playing in the NCAA, and pursuing a career as a professional ice hockey player. At the university, I would like to study engineering.
I believe your high school is the best place for me to continue pursuing my academic and athletic goals. My objectives are perfectly aligned with your school's reputation for creating a welcoming and nurturing learning environment and its dedication to sporting performance. In the classroom and on the ice, I am eager to contribute to the school community.
To sum up, I am thrilled about the possibility of joining a high school community, where I can keep developing intellectually, physically, and socially. I'm determined to take use of this chance and add positively to the lively environment at the school.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of joining your high school and embarking on this exciting journey together.
Sincerely,
Efe Han Öztorun