Personal Statement
Hi. My name is Kaila Engel, but I like to go by Kasey. I’m a Junior at Jesuit High School, one of the most challenging college prep schools in the Northwest.
I’ve been playing competitive sports since I was 5 and club volleyball since I was 12. I have been blessed to play for some of the best clubs in Southern California and the Portland area. My 13-1 team at Laguna Beach Volleyball Club took 2nd place at AAU’s Open division and my teams at OJVA and Athena Volleyball Academy have qualified to compete at GJNC.
I am a very driven student-athlete with a strong work ethic. I thrive in challenging, high pressure situations. I like to always lead by example, by being an energetic, supportive and encouraging teammate. I strongly believe that inclusion and positive feedback helps build a player’s confidence which is the most successful way to bring out the best of my teammates and win games!
I work hard in the classroom, and love to challenge myself both on the court and in the gym. My goal is to always keep learning and improving. In the off-season, I enjoy working out with my trainer to continue to build my strength, agility, and vertical. Being a middle, I love to block!
My passion is volunteering. I love getting involved with my community and giving back. Next year, I hope to become a member of Jesuit High School’s 201 Club which is reserved for students with more than 200 hours of volunteer service. Recently, I had the opportunity to travel to El Salvador and help build homes for less fortunate families. It was a very humbling and gratifying experience. I plan to return in 2023 to help again. In addition, I volunteer several evenings at my school teaching English as a second language and as a summer camp counselor for people with disabilities.
Something unique about me is that I'm taking flying lessons to get my private pilot’s license.
My biggest strengths are that I’m driven, fiercely competitive and am always striving to become the best player and teammate I can be. If given the opportunity to play in college, I will continue to be a leader, to push myself hard and bring encouragement and support to any team that I’m fortunate enough to play for.
