On January 31st the natatorium was booming with noise as parents and students cheered on Revere against Kent Roosevelt High School. John Shockey put on his swim cap and goggles as he got ready for his race. He stepped onto his starting block and took his stance preparing to give it his all.
It requires lots of hardwork and dedication to balance two sports, a personal life, and school. Despite all that John Shockey loves the challenge.
Shockey is a junior at Revere High School (RHS) that competes with the swim and lacrosse teams. He has swam since he was five and competes in the 50m and 100m. Similarly he has been playing lacrosse since the second grade,playing midfield for Revere.
“It can be hard because I do not have a lot of free time and it can be very stressful at times,” Shockey said.
Although there are a few downsides to being a student athlete, those are the sacrifices athletes have to make to be successful. Shockey works hard all year long to be prepared for both of his sports.
“I do club swimming year-round to make sure I stay in shape, and for lacrosse I work on my stick skills in the off season,” Shockey said.
When it comes to sports Shockey is motivated to do his best and has the discipline to achieve his goals. He finds most of his motivation in the challenges of sports. Shockey is driven by his competitive personality and uses it to make himself better.
“I am motivated by succeeding and winning because I don’t like losing,” he said.
Shockey’s mentality pushes him and his teammates to improve and aim for success. Zach Koutris is a sophomore on the swim team and one of Shockey’s close friends. He has seen Shockey grow as a teammate throughout the season.
“He’s a fun and exciting teammate. He’s very social, and he’s also very loud. At practice he’s always super excited, and he’s always happy to be there,” Koutris said.
Overall Shockey has a positive impact on his teammates and the atmosphere around his team through his attitude. His optimistic attitude and influence on the team helps him take control and lead the team.
“John’s a pretty good leader. He’s good at taking charge and getting vocal,” Koutris said.
Shockey is a voice of reason among his teammates. On the field and in the pool Shockey makes sure his hard work doesn’t go to waste. On the other hand he studies hard and stays ahead of his work to keep up good grades in the classroom.
“I try to be proactive. I get all of my homework done at school, and if I don’t finish it at school I do it after practice,” Shockey said.
Shockey stays ahead of his work so he can dedicate his attention to sports. Another person that has watched Shockey grow is junior Will Wells. Wells has seen first hand how Shockey’s focus and commitment have helped him thrive in the classroom.
“In the classroom, John is an outstanding classmate. He’s always dedicated to getting his work done,” Wells said.
In the classroom Shockey is a diligent worker. He tries to make the most of his education through lots of work and effort. When it comes to his classmates Shockey goes above and beyond to help out his peers.
“He’s always available to help out other classmates … if someone’s behind he’s always willing to help them catch up with the class,” Wells said.
Shockey works diligently to achieve his academic goals and succeed in his classes. He fills the little down time he has with lots of rest and relaxation to unwind from the stresses of his busy schedule.
“In my free time I like to take naps and play video games like Fortnite with my friends,” Shockey said.
Shockey gives his all in every aspect of his life. He stays dedicated whether he is swimming for Revere or learning in the classroom. As time goes on Shockey will continue to grow and develop as a student and an athlete.
