What kind of work do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy work that keeps me busy and off of my feet. Being active during work is important to me when finding and completing a job. Sitting at a desk working on paperwork or a computer has never been desirable to me because it seems tedious and boring. Working with other people would be ideal as well. I am a very sociable person, so being around the right people could motivate me and give me drive to finish my work.
What keeps you up at night?
The things that keep me up at night involve hockey, school, and friends. Hockey keeps me up for many reasons being that it is one of the most influential things in my life. I could be nervous for an upcoming game, or I could feel many emotions after playing a game. School keeps me up because of the amount of stress that comes with it. I usually worry about tests and due dates on assignments coming up. Friends could be in trouble and I could be worrying about them and that could keep me up. My friends could keep me up because they can easily distract me. They might need advice or help with whatever situation they are in.
What kind of person would you refuse to work with?
I refuse to work with someone who is one of two things: hateful or self centered. I could not work with someone like that because not only would they not enjoy being around me, but we would not be able to cooperate working on the same tasks. My work environment would not be enjoyable and I would dislike going to work everyday.
Tell me about a time that you participated in a team, what was your role?
I have been with many of teams, but last year I played for Detroit Compuware U16 team. Everybody on that team had an important role throughout the year. My role was to sit in the high slot and put the puck in the net in regular play and on power plays. I played forward on that team more often than I played defense, and I was known for scoring the goals. I will be always known as the lead scorer for that team.
What motivates you?
My friends and family motivate me to do my best . Regardless of what I go through, I can count on my family to be behind me in whatever decision I make. They give me the strength mentally to do the things I do. In hockey you have to be mentally strong to fight adversity, in the NHL, hockey players are not only strong physically but almost mentally. They are able to block out the media and fans so that their game is as good as it could be. My friends and family help me with my career but always reassuring me of the goal I have ahead. Mistakes are going to happen, but you have to keep a strong mind and keep focus on the eventual goal.
Who do you look up to/who is your mentor?
My mentor and the person I look up to is my Dad. He works everyday to pay for my family’s expenses. Regardless of what is going on in our lives, he ends up making ends meet. He has had to work extra hours to pay for both mine and my brother’s hockey careers. His time and devotion to the sport are partly in hope that one day he will be able to fulfil our dreams of playing in the NHL. The things my dad has done for me and my family have taught me that I have to work for everything I want in life, regardless of obstacles that may stand in the way.
How do you handle pressure/stress?
I handle pressure and stress by focusing on the task at hand, this helps me to calm my nerves and be able to make a plan of action for myself. I usually just take a deep breathe and try my best to succeed. If I don’t succeed, I will always know that I tried my best. Also, I use the pressure as motivation to finish my task.
Interview Questions and Answers
Where do you see yourself in five years?
When I was 17 I signed a three year contract with an OHL team, so for at least three more years I will be playing hockey; Weather or not I do good, will predict my future. If I end up signing an NHL contract, I will continue playing hockey for a good majority of my life. If by chance I am not signed, my OHL contract guarantees me a college education. If I go to college I would study astronomy, and eventually become an astronomer. If that wouldn’t work out, I would change my career path to become a personal trainer.
Tell me about an accomplishment you are most proud of
I am most proud of winning a National Championship with my team last year. We started off 10th in the country, and we kept improving and beating teams ahead of us. We were 5th in the country heading into our league playoffs, and we ended up winning first place. After that, we had state playoffs, and we headed into that third in the country. After a weekend of playoffs, we eventually fought our way to winning the state title. Since we won state playoffs, we went to nationals and didn’t lose a game. We became the number one team in the country, and I am very proud of my team and I for accomplishing that.
Tell me about a time you made a mistake
A big mistake I made was in the state championship two years ago. I went down on a two on one with my teammate, I shot and missed the net instead of passing it over. That pass could have won us the game. After I missed the net, the other team went down and scored a minute later to win the game. This was one of the biggest mistakes of my whole hockey career. For a while, I was devastated because it felt like I had lost the championship for my team, but as time went on I proved to myself that I was able to recover.