Personal Statement
My name is Andrew Hillman, and I am a 6’3” lefty setter. I also hit right side. I am still growing and hope to be as tall, or taller than my 6’ 5 ½” father. I became interested in volleyball when I was about 8 just watching my sister play. She has made a great impact on my volleyball career, by giving me tips and pointers to be the best player I can be. I continue to try to improve my skills each day. I did some training in the past, and continue to work out on my own, outside of my club and high school practices. I manage for the Parkland High School girls team, and work out with them. In the off season I love to play grass and beach tournaments. This past summer I won the Men’s Double AA Sportfest Tournament in Allentown. I believe that one of my greatest strengths is mental toughness, because I have the ability to forget about a missed hit or error and move on to get the next point. I was one of the court captains as a sophomore at Parkland High School, and try to keep my teammates pumped up, even when we are down. Being a lefty gives me a hitting advantage as a setter, and helps my jump serve to spin in at a different angle. Outside if volleyball, I try to stay involved in community and church projects. My parents both volunteer outside of their regular jobs, and have taught me how important it is to give back to the community by volunteering in different ways . I have participated in clubs at school that are focused on this. These include Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and P.A.L.S. Club for the special needs children. I have done community volunteering with some of the sports teams that I have been on, including helping out with Miracle League and The 5K Breast Cancer Walk. I have assembled blizzard boxes for Meals on Wheels. I work at my church’s festival and on helped resettle a refuge family from Sudan. I believe all of these activities have helped me to become a more compassionate person. My goal in high school is to continue to improve as a student. I try to challenge myself by taking some honors classes each year. I especially like the engineering classes that I have been able to take. I am undecided about my major for college, but am leaning toward either engineering, sciences, or a technical business career. I would like to play volleyball in college. I do not have a preference as to size of campus, location of campus, or division for volleyball. I am undecided on a major at this time.