Personal Statement
I have been a multi-sport athlete my whole life. I started playing AYSO soccer when I was 4, Little League softball when I was 6, and volleyball with Lions Jrs when I was in 3rd grade. But being a multisport athlete made me the person and athlete I am today. I was really good at each sport, being on the top team when I moved into travel soccer and I was picked to play on the Little League All-Star District Team for 4 years in a row.
I started playing travel volleyball with 1st Alliance/Lions Jrs in 5th grade and every year I moved up a level until finally in 8th grade, I made the 14-1’s team. Being placed on the top team gave me the opportunity to travel to Qualifiers, National Invitational Tournaments, and finally, the USAV Nationals, where we placed 5th in USAV-Juniors 14-Open. As I’ve had to spend more time on volleyball, I knew I had to cut back on other sports. I stopped playing Little League in 7th grade and I’ve taken a step back from my travel soccer team so I can commit more time to play volleyball for Lions Jrs / First Alliance and for my high school, Lyons Township High School. At the time it seemed like a lot but my parents signing me up for so many sports made me the athlete that I am today.
In addition to my passion for volleyball, I have other interests as well. I love to help others. I went on the Appalachia Service Project mission trip last summer to West Virginia with First United Methodist Church in La Grange where we rehabbed and repaired homes. But with the FUMC youth group, I’ve volunteered at soup kitchens and helped at church fundraisers. In high school, I auditioned for our high school radio station, WLTL, and I was picked to be part of the freshman team that has our own time slot. I joined the recycling club at school. I also referee the volleyball games for Lions Jrs youth league and am a certified soccer referee for the LG Celtics.
Looking to the future, I hope to become a doctor one day. At Lyons Township High School, I challenge myself academically. I am in honors-level classes for math, science, and English. But I also try to take classes that I enjoy like photography and culinary arts. Because of my commitment to volleyball, I don’t have as much time for my interests like art or cooking in my off time so taking these classes gives me a chance to continue my interests in these subject and activities while I’m at school and I can take advantage of all the different types of classes that LTHS has to offer.
Playing volleyball has become such an important part of my life. It has taught me that to get better, you need to work hard and be disciplined. Every year I have played a new position - I’ve been an outside hitter, setter, right-side hitter, and middle. And being part of a volleyball team, you need to be a team player - if someone is down on themselves we need to all work on bringing them up. Always have a positive attitude and everyone around you feels better too. And these are the things I try to remember when it comes to school and home and with my friends and family.
