Jaisha Royal-Smith '20 Recruiting Profile

When I have a goal to do something I remain determined, I plan everything out ahead of time, and I do everything in my power to achieve it. Volleyball is one of the only activities that I truly love. From the moment I first started playing, which was 6th grade, I knew it was something that I was good at and wanted to continue to do. 

I have had a rough volleyball and high school career (academics, school culture/community). I never had enough coaches, never had enough practices, never had enough games, never made it to the championship, never had dedicated teammates, never had my school take it seriously. During my Junior year my school decided to go PSAL and never told the former volleyball team about it. I had to take my own initiaive to join an entirely new team, for a different school in my builiding, for PSAL. Even that team didn't have a real coach, dedicated players/whole team effort, and we only won 1-2 games. Somehow it always seems like the world is against me trying to play volleyball, both at school and on my free time. 

I have become so obsessed over volleyball anything about it can attract my attention in a second. Whether it be the word, the actual ball, someone mentioning it, the game, the uniform, etc. I watch college volleyball games every night before I go to bed because I want to physically and mentally prepare myself for what I hope to do.  Watching these college athletes play a game that I love is truly inspiring, amazing, and I love the emotional feeling and intensity of long, great, rallies. 

I still plan on working on my strength, setting, passing, digging, and serving, whether it be on my own or with the help of a coach. To play volleyball at a college level is my first goal. I am excited to take on that challenge with a grounded and hard-working team. My future goal, past college, is to be part of the Volleyball Olympics.