Jack Steffanides is 17 years old and currently a Senior at Windham High School. One of Jack's biggest passions is playing soccer. Jack started playing soccer when he was a kid. He recalls playing soccer, “Just for fun. Whether it was at recess with my friends or at home with my dad and sister, it was pure joy, running around, laughing, not caring who scored or who won.”

But as Jack got older, his mindset shifted from playing soccer to improving his skills and becoming someone his teammates could rely on. Jack describes his drive for soccer as, “Playing soccer and basketball was so much fun, but what made them even more fun was winning, and winning with some of my best friends. So that was my drive; I loved winning.”

When Jack entered his sophomore year of high school, he successfully made the varsity team. In that season, Jack and his team claimed the second seed in the playoffs and lost only two games in the regular season. Jack and his team had the hope and capability to win the state championship. Unfortunately, they suffered a heartbreaking quarter-final loss. As a sophomore, Jack played the majority of the game. After the loss, Jack made a promise to himself that he would never let himself feel as sad and down as he did after losing that game, which motivates him to this day.

Jack had an outstanding senior season. The team reached the semi-finals but, unfortunately, had a heartbreaking loss. Jack was unable to keep his promise. After the loss, Jack had even worse feelings this time, because not only was he sad that he lost, but that his time playing competitive soccer was over. “The game I had enjoyed playing since I was a kid had vanished in the blink of an eye. But because of that promise, I was able to be in that game, in that final four. I can’t be prouder of myself for making it there, but at the same time, so disappointed for not being able to go further.”

Another sport Jack is passionate about is basketball. When Jack was in his sophomore year of high school, his goal was to make the varsity team because he loves to compete at the highest level. Although Jack was cut from varsity and played junior varsity, that only motivated him to work harder. “The year changed me for the better; it motivated me, and I worked harder than ever before, becoming the MVP of our JV team and was eventually selected to swing up to varsity for the rest of the season,” said Jack on reflecting on his time on junior varsity.

Jack, now entering his senior season for basketball, is a reliable teammate and key leader for the team. Jack has learned valuable lessons through playing these sports. He has learned lessons about going beyond the court or the field: teamwork, persistence, and leadership. Jack has learned to handle pressure, push through setbacks, and support others even when things don’t go his way.