Dear Coach/Administrator,
In advance I thank you for taking the time and interest in Hannah Nelson’s athletic and academic abilities. Although I have only known Hannah for her freshman year, it does not take long to determine her character. In this letter I will briefly reflect on who she is, both academically and athletically. For it is my privilege to be both her Spanish teacher at Batavia High School, as well as her soccer coach.
Going into the freshman year in high school can be a very trying experience for any student. A new building, new teachers, and a stronger curriculum are a few of the obstacles that must be overcome. The benefit for a teacher is my ability to observe how that particular student engages a new situation, and once comfortable with their surroundings how they maintain their effort. In the case of Hannah, she is one to immediately engage in the new surroundings. At first she analyzed the atmosphere of the Spanish class and diligently strived to excel in class. While at first she was shy to verbally use a new language out loud, she has in one quarter become one of my most vocal students. She is always on task and determined to get an “A”. Neither is she one to shy away from clarifying the details of the information if she isn’t sure of something. She has blossomed into a very active and proficient Spanish student; one who I expect will go on to Spanish IV her senior year, which is taught in complete language immersion.
Athletically, I know Hannah from two different soccer perspectives. As a club coach for Hammer FC, I have seen Hannah on the field and in random academy style sessions. While I have never personally been her coach, her effort and touch help separate her out of the crowd. Before she entered her first high school season I asked my colleague, her team coach, for a scouting report. He was dead on in describing her winning attitude. She craves nothing less than the best, to the point that can frustrate her. Playing at a small school such as Batavia, she finds herself in a situation where she has a soccer background vastly more detailed than the rest of the team, even the seniors. Her freshman season was a struggle as she tried to give some of that experience to the rest of the team and build the program up to a higher level. This commitment put her into a delicate situation as she tight-roped the social line of being a friend to her teammates as well as a determined competitor. She was from the beginning of the season looked to as a person with answers, which will allow her to develop the leadership skills that captains need to possess. I look for her to continue this on the Varsity team and fill that role as a leader.
Overall, in the short year that I have known Hannah I have found her to be an engaging and enthusiastic person who will be a great asset in whatever she endeavors to take on. Please feel free to contact me with any other questions.
Kevin Scheel scheel_k@bataviaschools.org
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