IHSA Senior Athletic Academic Achievement Award Essay Winner 2023

DOMINIQUE PALKA, the University of Central Florida

During the past two years, I have participated in numerous IHSA competitions, and I can attest that these competitions have helped me develop several qualities that have benefited me at the University of Central Florida and will help in my future career as an attorney. Competing in IHSA requires discipline, resilience, teamwork and critical thinking skills.

As a competitor, I have had to be disciplined in not only my training, but also my overall approach to the sport. This discipline has translated into my academic life, where I have learned to be more structured in my study habits and time management. Last year, not only was I preparing for the regional competition with semi-finals only one week after, but I was also in the beginning stages of studying for my LSAT while in the middle of mid-term week. This fall, I will begin my first year of law school where this discipline will help me stay focused on achieving my goals and remain committed to achieving them.

Another quality IHSA competitions have taught me is resilience. I know I can perform well on my own horse, but it is the unpredictability of getting on a new horse that can be nerve racking. There have been times that I have not achieved the results I was aiming for, but I have learned from my mistakes and continued to work toward my goals. This resilience has been influential in my academic life, where I must handle setbacks, failures and challenges with grace and determination. This resilience will continue helping me throughout my life.

Teamwork is one of the biggest qualities I have learned from IHSA. Through these competitions, I have learned how to communicate effectively with the horse I am given, work collaboratively as co-captain with my coaches and teammates and support others during competitions. At the University of Central Florida, there are many opportunities for collaborating with classmates and communicating my ideas clearly. In my future career, teamwork will help me work effectively with my colleagues and collaborate on cases.

Finally, IHSA competitions have helped me develop critical thinking skills. The competitions require split-second decision making, quick analysis of situations, and adjustments to the approach accordingly. In competitions, I have been on horses ranging from sensitive, lazy, green, or anticipatory. Being able to determine the type of horse you are on gives you the advantage you need to perform well. This type of critical thinking will translate into my future by allowing me to analyze complex legal issues, consider various perspectives and make sound arguments.

Being on the University of Central Florida IHSA team has taught me many qualities that have benefited me in my academic years and will certainly contribute to future successes. From discipline, resilience, teamwork and critical thinking, these qualities have helped me become a more well-rounded individual, and I know they will continue to serve me in my legal career as well.