Personal Statement
Ever since I started playing volleyball for my middle school team in 7th grade, the sport itself has grown on me, more than I had expected. I played for the Santa Monica Volleyball Club for one year, before transferring to Pacific Palisades Club. I have been the captain of my club team and its starting setter for the past two years. I’m also starting setter for my high school varsity team. This entails much responsibility on the court; I am well aware of my role and the actions I must take to control and lead the team.
From the start I was ambitious and set high goals for myself. I consistently approached my coaches, establishing and maintaining a relationship that coincided with my passion and conviction for the highest level of playing possible. I always jumped at the chance for extra playing time - in the gym or on the beach. Last summer, heading into my junior year, my partner and I were the second seed varsity team out of the three teams chosen to play in the AAU Interscholastic Beach Volleyball League. My high school boy’s beach team ended up creating quite a name for itself, featured in the local newspaper for winning our division as the IBVL champions in our inaugural year!
Over the past year I have grown both as a player and as a teen. I grew 5 inches in the last two years and stand at a tall, and advancing 6’2”. According to my club, high school indoor and beach coaches, I have naturally clean hands and exhibit the maturity, hard-driven mentality, and leadership needed both on and off the court. I’m especially grateful to be singled out as critical to my high school team by head coach, Liane Sato, a player and teacher who knows what she’s talking about. Having won the bronze medal at the 1992 summer Olympics in Barcelona (with the U.S. National Team) she demonstrates the ability not only to teach, but to inspire my team to achieve our highest potential.
Academically, I most enjoy the sciences and English Literature, and maintain a respectable 3.9-weighted GPA. I push myself in academics and athletics to achieve the highest standard. I take pride in my health and always seek room for improvement as I challenge myself to apply my teachers' and coaches' every suggestion.
