Sophia Janssen '15 Recruiting Profile

In college, I hope to not only further my education, but further my volleyball knowledge and play at a competitive level. Academics has always been a primary focus in my life, from attending college-preparatory school since sixth grade, to studying for countless hours over the weekend. I have sacrificed a lot for my education, from having free time on the weekends, to spending every break on homework and projects. I realize how this time management training will aid me during college, when practices, workouts, travel, and my studies will take up most of my time. From my education, I have also learned organization techniques, from using my planner extensively to developing a system of storing my tests, quizzes, and notes. On a more personal level, my studies have taught me about myself and made me ponder who I am and who I want to be. I realize that I want to be a leader in my community, whether that be Maui, where I am from, or wherever I may be living. This thought directly connects to sports. Through volleyball, soccer and tennis, I have discovered how to lead, through trial and error, and also by reading many books. As captain of Seabury Hall’s Varsity volleyball team, I have struggled with maintaining good relations with my teammates while also reprimanding when a team rule is broken or complimenting an incredible pass or set. These struggles have not only helped me to lead more effectively but also about myself. I am a very vocal person, whether I am on the court or in the classroom. In my future, I see myself as someone involved in daily communication, whether it be business, law, or international. Volleyball has shown me my weaknesses as well. As a vocal leader, I need to work on and improve my example setting. This past season I have really focused on leading by example and hope to continue to work on this in college. By leading by example, I mean showing commitment by always being the first one in the gym, the most attentive to the coach, and the player that works the hardest in practice. My coach has helped me to change my mindset from reaching goals to always wanting to learn; in this mindset, I am never good enough and that’s okay, as long as I keep working hard. As I strive to improve both my weaknesses and strengths, possible careers come into my mind: business, environmental sciences, and law. In college, I hope to further my understanding of myself through volleyball and academics in hopes to continue this lovely balance of knowledge that I have received from both.