Personal Statement
Growing up a competitive gymnast, I learned a lot about dedication and discipline at a young age. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the very important life skills gymnastics taught me. In sixth grade, I decided gymnastics was no longer my passion. After exiting from the gymnastics world, I decided I would try out volleyball. Starting volleyball in seventh grade, my skill level was not the same as my peers who started playing years before. At first, it was hard always playing catch up. It seemed as if every time I made improvements, my peers were still 10 steps ahead of me. Being behind gave me a lot of passion and drive to keep pushing, even when it wasn’t easy. I had to put in the extra work to get where I wanted to be and where I knew I could be. The skills I learned in gymnastics were a huge help when first starting volleyball. I often reminded myself that all of the work would one day be worth it.
Fast forward a few years...during the 2018-19 club season, I had the privilege to play up on a 16u team. The 2018-19 season was a great learning year for me as I learned a how to play a faster game and learned leadership skills from my teammates. During the 2019-20 season, I played up on a 17u team where I was co-captain of the team. After watching and learning from leaders on my prior teams, I was prepared and excited to become a leader. Even though the 19-20 club season was cut short, I was still able to grow as a player and as a leader.
Working toward college, I want to explore opportunities to play volleyball at a school that will allow me to continue working toward my athletic goals, academic goals, and life goals. I hope that in addition to athletic ability, I will be able to be contribute encouragement and confidence to my teammates. While I know that playing at a high level will come with its challenges, I am prepared and excited to see what comes from the challenges, as well as the triumphs!
