Personal Statement
My parents often joke that no matter what sport they asked me if I wanted to try growing up, my answer was always ‘yes’. In fifth grade, that sport was volleyball. In my third year, I had the privilege of playing for a coach who showed me that there was so much more to it than wins and losses – that being a student of the game was as important as having raw talent; that hard work made success on the court not only more likely, but sweeter; and that your relationship with your teammates off the court was critical for developing the necessary trust on the court. I fell in love with volleyball that year and specifically, my role as a defensive leader. It wasn’t until I went down with an ankle injury part way through my freshman year in high school, however, that I came to fully appreciate how important a part of my life volleyball had become. The pain, frustration, and healing both emotionally and physically that came with that helped me grow as an individual. It gave me a new appreciation for my sport and led me to push myself further to becoming a solid libero that had the potential to play at the college level.
Through my seven years of playing volleyball, I have discovered the value of teamwork, commitment, hardship, and leadership in times of success and moments of failure. I am looking for a program that will allow me to continue to grow both as a person and a player through a combination of a rigorous academic and athletic experience. I believe that I not only have the talent to be a part of a college level team, but the character and the work ethic to make an impact on your program.