Shaianne Cambra '19 Recruiting Profile

Glancing at the top of the mountain and watching the palm trees sway in the current of the breeze, I find myself walking to a trail which leads to a broken fence that reads, “No Trespassing”. My curiosity indulges me to continue the path that leads me to the top. As I stood there looking at the different paths to take, I thought to myself, this hike exemplifies the many challenges that life throws at you. Which path will I chose, which one will lead me to the top of the mountain?

At the age of five, I began competing in gymnastics as an individual athlete. I spent four hours a day, five days a week, learning and perfecting skills. Placing in the top three for all-around athlete and graduating to another level every year was normal. Until level seven, skills got harder and my body growth changed. I could no longer perform and win competitions. I lost the feeling of an accomplished gymnast, so I quit.

I didn’t let that bring me down, I carried on.

Ironically, involving myself with school opened many doors for me. I found myself joining Junior Council. I helped create events and different activities at my school. I gained community service hours and contributed to working around my community to making it a better place. I became a responsible citizen.

I found myself climbing into a new passion.

Volleyball. I decided to tryout for school. I started as a setter. I had no experience, let alone, the rules of the game or playing on a team. The team relied on me to make the correct plays. Volleyball has taught me that communicating with others and performing will get the job done. This sport is not only a physical game, but a mental game. It broke me into believing I can pick myself up from hitting rock bottom.

I’m finally at a happy place. I am blessed to attend private school, play volleyball, and have wonderful friends. I couldn’t ask for anything more.  

Then all of a sudden, I’m in a slump. I no longer want to attend private school.  All I could think of was how am I going to tell my parents? They sacrificed everything for me to attend private school since first grade. Once again, I am faced with another bump in the trail.

Two weeks before public school started, I got the courage to tell my parents how unhappy I was. I made the move to attend public school with conditions in place that I will continue to work hard with my studies and maintain my grade point averages. I enrolled and I’m doing a good job in meeting my parents condition. I always thought that public school was not the place for me. I am wrong. It doesn’t matter what school you attend, it’s how you as a person make it to be. The amount of work I put in is the same amount of work that comes out of it.  

I took the long and hard path which showed me how to overcome obstacles and flaws that define me. My life fuels my curiosity and desires me to work for things that I need to earn. Picking myself up when I am giving up or finding paths that lead me to the wrong destination are all obstacles that I need to overcome in order to be successful. Getting there is a struggle, but in the end there is a satisfying accomplishment. This defines my morals and values, that I immerse myself to being a hard worker and to never lose sight of what’s ahead of me. I found my victory.

For now, I succeeded and reached the end of the trail.  I will continue to find different paths that will lead me to the next chapter of my life.

What path will you take?