Personal Statement
I was watching the volleyball games every day. I was in third grade when I first started practicing sports professionally. At that time, I was playing on a basketball team. I used to always go to my own trainings a bit too early. I had nothing to do while my teammates come so I used to go watch the volleyball games next door. I was doing volleyball at school at that point and everyone was telling me I had talent.
Back then, I was enjoying my volleyball games at school more than my basketball practice. Thus, it did not come as a suprise when two years later, I switched from going to a basketball club to a volleyball practice. I started playing for Lokomotiv Sofia, a professional volleyball club in Bulgaria.
At 15, I received the national award for MVP (Most Valuable Player). Then, I was invited by a larger club to play for them. This club is now called Levski Ball. The first year, at the national championship, I got the award for best serve. Then I got invited by the national team coaches to play for the Bulgarian youth national team for people under aged 17 to 19. Since then, I have regularly been invited to play for the national team. I have been training for 3 hours,6 days a week, and in the end of the week i have two games with other clubs . Starting this year, I am one of the main six players my club’s the men’s team, too so i have to travel throughout the country with my team every week . In both my youth team and club men team, I have recently been the player getting the highest number of points for the team.
I would like to study in the USA because the college volleyball is popular in this country. I think at college level, volleyball is more popular than in Europe, where I come from. I feel that certain migration from the old to the new world and back happens all the time in this sport anyway. I think I will feel very comfortable with changing my setting and I am looking forward to this opportunity. I will enjoy the opportunity to live, study, make friends, and play in the States now, that is what I know for sure. However, I am familiar with the championship in Europe, I can compare both championships. I think this is an advantage.
In the same time, I am not only looking for opportunities withing the athletic world. My mother and my grandparents are teachers. They have taught me put a high value on my education. I also understand that it is always good for an athlete to have a back-up plan and a plan for further development when he or she retires.
I am a student with excellent achievements, too. Last year, my GPA was 5.90 out of 6.00 which is an equivalent of 3.9 /4.0 in teh American GPA system. I am graduating from one of the most rigorous, and desired for entry, school in the country. I speak three languages at above intermediate levels: Bulgarian, English, and German. I participate in many extracurricular projects in my school.
US universities provide high-quality education. They also have long-term traditions of combining sport with academic development. The European college championship is at a much lower level and combining it with my studies in Europe will be a much harder task.
Generally, there is one important reason I think I fit in the American education and college volleyball system. It allows for a combination of strong athletic and academic programs, flexibility, diversity, and application of modern methods in any aspect of my future development. I will be happy to train with new coaches and see new methods of work. I think that will have a great positive impact on my development as an athlete.
