Personal Statement
My name is Eric J. Santiago Garcia, class of 2018 at Glen Ridge High School in New Jersey. It has always been my dream to play in the States at a good academic institution where I could find top-level play and pursue my academic interests, including psychology, criminal justice and business administration.
I was born and raised in Puerto Rico in a family full of volleyball players. I have played as an outside hitter/libero in Warriors Volleyball Club, San Juan Volleyball Club, and Mayaguez Crows Volleyball Club. I have played competitively in Puerto Rico and the US, including major tournaments such as the 2017 Boys Junior Nationals in Columbus, OH, and the 2016 Amateur Athletic Union Tournament in Orlando, FL. I have always loved volleyball and have been playing since the age of four. I play with a lot of heart and consistently come out on top of any team I join. (SEE BELOW FOR LINK TO HIGHLIGHTS VIDEO).
I had started my senior year on a full ride scholarship at Academia Santa Teresita in Naranjito, Puerto Rico (the number-one ranked high school team on the island), when Hurricane Maria hit. My school was destroyed, as was much of my town and most of the island. After one month with no water or electricity, I made the tough decision to move in with my aunt's family in October and am finishing my senior year at Glen Ridge High School in New Jersey.
As you may note, my grades in 9th and 10th grades were not terribly good – my cumulative GPA is 2.6. My mother was sick through a lot of this period and, due to family circumstances, we moved around a lot. My 11th grade was much better and I am now scoring A’s and B’s at Glen Ridge High School, one of the top high schools in New Jersey. We are currently working on getting ACT scores, as we needed to transfer registrations from Puerto Rico after the hurricane.
I look forward to exploring my opportunities here in the United States through NCSA. I believe I have a lot to offer to any college team and community with my breadth of experience, my strength and my resilience.
