Joel Elenbaas, HHS Class of 2010
I am entering my senior year at the United States Naval Academy. I am earning my
degree in Naval Architecture, which is the study of ship design. I was recently selected to become a Submarine Office in the United States Navy after graduation, so after commissioning I will attend Nuclear Power School in Charleston, South Carolina. At the Naval Academy, I am the
President and Captain of the Club Water Polo team.
I can honestly say that I would not be where I am today had I not been a member of the swimming and water polo teams at Hudsonville. It is hard to truly appreciate the amount of hard work and dedication that a sport like swimming or water polo requires unless you actually do it.
The personal challenges that I faced in the pool have led to some of my most invaluable lessons: how to push yourself and stay motivated, how to rely on teammates, and how to have pride in yourself and your team.
I have had to apply these lessons daily throughout my time at the Naval Academy. Throughout the long, hard days of Indoctrination and Plebe Year I found that it was easier for me to stay upbeat and to keep working hard after feeling worn out. If I could make it through four years of staring at a black line on the bottom of the pool I could pretty much make it through anything. I also knew how to stay calm and keep my composure throughout these times because I learned firsthand through swimming and water polo how nerves can throw off your performance. Even now, as the captain of the Club Water Polo team, I find myself relying on the leadership lessons that I learned as a captain of the Varsity Water Polo team at Hudsonville when it comes to teaching others and getting teammates to perform together.
The aquatics programs at Hudsonville have been a foundation cornerstone in my development as a person and as a future leader in the United States Navy. The challenges I've faced and the lessons taught by the excellent coaching staffs were the most valuable of my high school career.
Joel Elenbaas
Class of 2010
degree in Naval Architecture, which is the study of ship design. I was recently selected to become a Submarine Office in the United States Navy after graduation, so after commissioning I will attend Nuclear Power School in Charleston, South Carolina. At the Naval Academy, I am the
President and Captain of the Club Water Polo team.
I can honestly say that I would not be where I am today had I not been a member of the swimming and water polo teams at Hudsonville. It is hard to truly appreciate the amount of hard work and dedication that a sport like swimming or water polo requires unless you actually do it.
The personal challenges that I faced in the pool have led to some of my most invaluable lessons: how to push yourself and stay motivated, how to rely on teammates, and how to have pride in yourself and your team.
I have had to apply these lessons daily throughout my time at the Naval Academy. Throughout the long, hard days of Indoctrination and Plebe Year I found that it was easier for me to stay upbeat and to keep working hard after feeling worn out. If I could make it through four years of staring at a black line on the bottom of the pool I could pretty much make it through anything. I also knew how to stay calm and keep my composure throughout these times because I learned firsthand through swimming and water polo how nerves can throw off your performance. Even now, as the captain of the Club Water Polo team, I find myself relying on the leadership lessons that I learned as a captain of the Varsity Water Polo team at Hudsonville when it comes to teaching others and getting teammates to perform together.
The aquatics programs at Hudsonville have been a foundation cornerstone in my development as a person and as a future leader in the United States Navy. The challenges I've faced and the lessons taught by the excellent coaching staffs were the most valuable of my high school career.
Joel Elenbaas
Class of 2010