- 2021 Highlights
Personal Statement
I began my “sports life” at the age of 4. My mom put me in dance and I hated it. But she made me stick out the season. That’s when I first learned never to give up. I decided I wanted to practice Karate instead, so at the age of 5, my parents enrolled me. They also split up during my time in Karate. But, I never let it get to me. I focused on the matches. I loved to spar. In fact, my last year or tournaments, I came in third in the nation in sparring. We got to go to a banquet in Chicago to receive my award. We were constantly traveling to different states. When I commit to something, I am all in, therefore I chose to leave karate and focus on volleyball.
I began playing beach volleyball with my father when I was eleven. I was tall for my age, as is he, and we won several tournaments in St. Augustine, Florida throughout the years. Playing volleyball on the beach is where I learned. By the time I was in middle school, I immediately made the volleyball team and was floor captain by 7th grade. I played for a traveling volleyball club, SEVA (southeastern volleyball association). I played for them until they dissolved the club in 2018.
When I was in 8th grade, we won the regional championship for our middle school. I was captain of the team. Additionally, I was pulled up to begin practicing with the high school team in both 7th and 8th grade. I gained a lot of knowledge and experience playing with a team instead of just setting for my dad. I finally settled into my position as an Outside Hitter and Defensive Specialist, although I’ve played at pretty much every position, but these are my forte.
As a freshman and sophomore, I had to play JV, it was a rule. However, I did get called up to play varsity in tournaments both years. As a freshman, our varsity team came in as 16th in the state. I was voted MVP of JV that year as a freshman and as a sophomore was awarded Offensive player of the year.
I’ve been a starter since I began playing. I am still a starter but sometimes we rotate. This was hard for me to accept at the beginning of the year. I had never been pulled off the court. We have an amazing senior that plays the same position as me. In fact, we played club volleyball together as well.
Having to be pulled out was very humbling and taught me a lesson in teamwork. I no longer get upset if I must sit out for a bit. I cheer on my team, because they are like family to me. We worked very well together and won regionals and ended up losing at state.
I am going to miss my teammates that go off to college next year. I’ve been playing with some of them since the traveling club days. They, along with our new coach, Coach Brooke, have really helped me get used to not always being the best player on the team.
I’ve learned that the game is bigger than just me. It takes a group of girls from many different walks of life coming together to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. So, we all cheer each other on and I have become totally dedicated on and off the court. And although that senior has already been accepted to a private university on a volleyball scholarship, I understand that she loves the game as much as I do. So, when we rotate, I know it’s not personal. And it's been an honor to play volleyball with her since our SeVA days.
We’ve had a different coach each year of my high school career. This year, we finally got Coach Brooke, who chose our varsity team off talent, not what grade you are in. We have two freshmen on our team. I wish she had been around when I was a freshman. I could’ve learned these humbling lessons earlier in life. But her drive and willingness to play people based on talent is inspiring.
She has tremendously been someone I can look up to and always go to for advice. I do play more than the senior because I can play different positions, but I understand we are there to represent our school and play to the best of our abilities while all maintaining a positive sportsmanlike attitude.
I am now a junior, and my dream is to play volleyball in college and it’s very important to me to keep my academics up and graduate. Although my major may change, I am beginning college courses the last semester of my Junior year at Coastal College of Georgia. I want to specialize in criminal justice and continue on to become a detective. I have always enjoyed helping others. But I do understand that may change. Keeping my academics up is very important. My mom has always been about academics.
My mom was the first person on her side of the family to graduate from college. She was Cum Laude of her graduating class of 2002 at Georgia State University with a major in Public Policy and a minor in psychology. She was accepted to the MBA program there, but found out she was pregnant with me and chose not to go. She never played a sport though. I would be the first. She inspires me to always do better.
She’s been my biggest cheerleader and supporter my entire life. So when she was diagnosed with terminal stage 4 lung cancer when I was 7, I was devastated. She ever smoked, but it spread to her brain. They gave her 12 to 18 months to live. She is still here 9 years later because she doesn’t give up. She’s been through so much that I was worried about her constantly. But I understand these things are out of my hands. I just feel blessed she's still here.
She's also taught me the value of empathy. We never know what someone is going through. She doesn't look sick so people don't always help her. She always says we must walk in the other persons shoes to know their story.
Volleyball is so therapeutic for me. It has helped me along the way to take my mind off the whirlwind I’ve been in for the past 9 years. I focus on volleyball, and she comes to every game (except last year when she had a stroke). She relearned to walk and you can't tell it even happened. This year she has devoted herself to being at every game. Quitters do not run in my family.
My father has also been my coach for the most part. He practices with me at home and always gives me feedback and constructive criticism, even if I have a great game. I value this as it makes me strive to always do better. Some of my favorite past times were with him playing beach volleyball.
I have always been a leader, like both of my parents, but I’ve learned that I’m not always going to be the best. This is the most valuable lesson I’ve taken from Volleyball. It will apply to the real world as well. I’ve learned that I may be down sometimes, but still have a positive attitude and cheer on my teammates.
I truly believe that I not only have the talent and personality to play college volleyball, but the skills, energy, character, and work-ethic to make a valuable impact on the team. This year we finished in the Elite Eight. Unfortunately we all had the flu so our game was awful but we did our best to plow through it. I received MVP
