- 2018 Highlights #2
Personal Statement
My first love has always been animals; both land animals and those in the ocean. This is why I want to study marine biology/zoology when I start college. My mom has always said that it is never good to choose a career based on money but to choose based on passion. I am passionate about animals, especially wildlife and so at some point I may pursue a career as a veterinarian. I haven’t decided yet. I travel with the National Aquarium of Baltimore each year and have learned a great deal about ecology and marine biology so I may stick with it over the years. I also traveled to Spain last summer in a language immersion program. While in Spain, we visited the aquarium in Valencia. I love ocean life.
What I do know is how much I want to continue playing volleyball in college and beyond. I would love to be a part of the 2024 Olympic team. When I was younger, I played softball and basketball and enjoyed them both. I also played the bass clarinet and tenor saxophone all through middle school. My schedule was getting hectic and so I knew I had to make a choice. There is no greater sport than volleyball in my mind so the choice was easy. When I first started playing, many people said I would lose interest in other sports and they were so right. I still enjoy other sports but nothing gets me as excited as volleyball and I never tire of it.
I started playing volleyball in the 8th grade and in my first year I was named team captain and have been the captain of my club team ever since. When I got to high school, I made the varsity team my freshman year. Being a part of a team has shown me the importance of dependability, self-motivation and discipline and has given me a strong work ethic. Both my mother and my coaches have been extremely supportive and have always pushed me to be the best person I can be. I have grown into a true leader and my self-confidence continues to climb. School hasn’t always come easy for me but I focus on my future and that helps me work harder and harder each day. Being raised by a single mom has had its challenges because my mom has had to work three jobs in order for me to play club volleyball. It is very expensive but my mom and coaches believe in me and so she has continued to make sacrifices so I can pursue my dreams. It is so important for me to make my mother and coaches proud because they have all contributed to the person I have become which is a well-rounded, hardworking, enthusiastic leader. My high school coach calls me her unicorn. She says I am special. I am the right person for a collegiate team because I understand the game in a way many other players do not. I watch and study college volleyball and will rewind and replay matches just so I can learn and improve as a setter and hitter. For the past three years, I have been the only player on my team who works as a first referee. This is a certification that is important to me and I really enjoy the responsibility. This will be the first year I will also be eligible to be a paid referee and I look forward to earning some money so I can help my mom pay some of these fees.
I know what I am capable of and I know that any team I play for will benefit from my knowledge of the game, my athleticism, my ability to get along with everyone and my ability to lead and encourage my team even when we may not be winning. I hope you will give me a chance to show you just how unique I am.
