NCSA caught up with volleyball standout Brooke Burge about her high school career and the opportunity to compete at the college level.
NCSA: What have you gained from playing sports in high school (teamwork, the importance of hard work)? How has it affected your life away from the game?
Burge: I have gained so many benefits from being involved in sports; it is hard to pinpoint just one. In general, my involvement has strengthened my ability to be patient. It has helped me improve my personal drive to reach my goals, as well as broadened my desire to set greater goals. I have a greater understanding about the necessity of rules and regulations set by not only parents but also coaches and how the rules have a profound effect on success. Not only have I developed a sense of pride through athletics but also athletics has helped me understand the purpose of self-discipline, in all areas of my life. Above all, with sports, you automatically have a family. Teammates are not just teammates; teammates are friends for life!
NCSA: Tell us a little bit about your high school coach. What is s/he like, what does s/he teach you, what's the toughest part of working with him/her and what have you learned from them?
Burge: My high school volleyball coach is a "little fire ball". She constantly encourages all of her players to work to reach their highest potential. She has taught me that criticism is necessary for improvement. She has influenced me to interact with the other players on the court: to lead, verbalize in a positive way, always encourage my teammates, and to be respectful of others on the court and off the court.
NCSA: Who's your role model and why?
Burge: My volleyball role model is my mentor, Val Novak Warrior. She is incredible! No matter what I experience, on or off the court, she believes in me every step of the way. She is the one person who has encouraged me and has helped me to believe I can play college volleyball. I love to watch her play and observe the way she carries herself while she plays. Val truly is an example on the court as she plays with such poise and patience. Outside of volleyball, my role models are my parents. They both work extremely hard to ensure that my brother and I have opportunities to further our education. Incredibly supportive, they both spend personal time to assist me with my studies and are always available to listen and provide direction.
NCSA: At what age did you start playing your sport? Have you ever had to choose between it and another sport or activity?
Burge: I began to playing volleyball when I was in the 7th grade, so I would have been 12 years old. Even then, volleyball wasn't as competitive as it has become, nor was I. I played soccer for from age 4 to 12, 7 years. Because soccer wasn't offered in middle school, I decided to try out for the sports programs my school did offer. Since I'm not much of a runner and more "team" minded, I skipped out on track and cross-country, which left me with basketball and volleyball. In the end it wasn't hard to choose, I was intrigued with and desired to learn more about volleyball. I didn't begin club volleyball until I was 14.
NCSA: How do you plan to spend the summer? Are you playing sports, working or traveling with you family etc, etc?
Burge: This summer seems to be strictly business as compared to my past summers. I have been traveling with my club team. My club team, Dallas Skyline Juniors, spent one week in training in St. Petersburg, Florida prior to the AAU tournament and then spent the remainder of the time at the AAU tournament, hosted in Orlando. I will be on the road again In July because my club team will be participating in Junior Olympics in Minneapolis. In between, I'm focusing on my readings for my Advanced Placement classes. Once Junior Olympics are over, I will switch my focus and spend the remainder of my summer on college visits and attending the Sports Performance setters' camp. I hope I can fit in a job somewhere in between.
NCSA: What is your favorite and also what is your least favorite classes in school and why.
Burge: My favorite class is Medical Health Science, where I have the opportunity to learn about and experiment with medical related issues in the hospital setting. But I also enjoy biology. My passion is the science field. My career plans are to enter into medical sciences. My least favorite class has to be English. I love to read, yet the books that are on the Advanced Placement book list never seem to catch my attention.
NCSA: What are you looking for in a college? Do you have your heart set on a major, a certain size of school, type of student body?
Burge: Seeking the right college has been one of the hardest tasks for me. Of course, if I am going to play volleyball at the college level, most likely the college volleyball program will determine which college I attend. If I had to build a college profile, I would most certainly like to find one that fits my personality; a nice well kept campus where I will feel comfortable and safe walking around, decent dorm rooms (free of roaches!), a relaxed atmosphere, and college personnel who care about the students attending the college. I'm not particular about the size of the school or student body but I would like to attend a college that will allow me the opportunity to pursue my dream of becoming a doctor. The school should be recognized for their biology or medical studies. A beach or near the beach would be nice!
