Carla Castro '17 Recruiting Profile

 I typically come from a community where graduating high school is as far as your education will go, which means the odds of competing at the collegiate level feel like one in a million. At Locke High School, sports are underappreciated, and, in the case of girls’ volleyball, it is not respected. My peers at Locke believe that sports, especially volleyball, represent nothing more than a seasonal extracurricular activity. Given the circumstance our volleyball team is not very strong.

 For me, volleyball has reshaped many aspects of my life. It is a secure family that I can turn to. It is my window of escape from the social workers at home. It is my brief sanctuary from my duties as the older sibling. Volleyball started as an unexpected spark in my life, but since has transformed into a roaring fire.

 As my first high school season rolled by, it was not enough to suffice my hunger for my passion. My coaches suggested that I consider playing on a travel team. For my game to further develop, I needed more intensive practices, competition at tournaments, and exposure outside my disapproving community. 

 By chance, I found myself at Beach Cities Volleyball Club (BCVC) last November. From the first drill in practice to the last rally in scrimmage, I felt a sense of hope. I felt support all around – from the coaches down to the teammates, like puzzle pieces coming together. One dream, one hope, one ambition: every player has the potential of playing in college.

 BCVC has influenced my game beyond doubt, from passing, to setting, and even to jump serving. Traveling to San Diego’s Junior Nationals and being exposed to different levels of volleyball has taught me ways to adjust and step out of my comfort zone. These are skills every college volleyball player needs to succeed in the big game. 

 My dream is to compete at the collegiate level at one of my top choice schools. I strive to prove my community wrong, demonstrate that volleyball will take me further than believed, and step on the court of my dream school ready for game day.

 I want to create a legacy that pushes young Latinas in my community to follow their dreams, whether it is becoming a doctor, an engineer, or simply making it to college. I want to be that sense of hope that my coaches have bestowed upon me. I want others to see that socioeconomic status, nationality, or even gender, should not define what you are capable of achieving.