- 2021 Spotlight
Personal Statement
Hello! My name is Sophia Ndjerareou (pronounced juh-raw-ro). Competition has taught me tenacity, grit, and grace are what’s needed to achieve any goal. I am a setter/outside hitter. My goal is to play volleyball at the college level and pursue a degree in the STEAM field. I’m equally committed to my education and my team.
I play volleyball because I love how every action can be precise, beautiful, and powerful. No matter the challenge, my love for the game keeps growing. I thrive in competition and I’m passionate about improving my game, nutrition, mental recovery, and encouraging my teammates. I am committed to performing with a positive attitude on and off the court.
My GPA is 4.16 and I serve my community through National Junior Honor Society, Student Council, and on the Student Culture Advisory Committee. Leadership and teachability are qualities I’m always striving toward. My proudest achievement is serving as a captain for my club volleyball, junior varsity volleyball, soccer, and robotics teams. Although new to competitive volleyball, I have excelled quickly and discovered a place to focus my drive and determination.
During my first club season, I became an outside hitter out of necessity to support my team. I believe the best player on the court is the smartest, not the strongest. I worked diligently to improve my vertical by several inches, increase my hitting speed, and blocking strategy. This knowledge has helped me as a setter with a more complete understanding of the game and earned me a starting spot on my varsity team.
I am a member of my local church and I’ve traveled extensively with my family, living among a variety of cultures including Thailand, the Caribbean France, and Chad, Africa. Curiosity, compassion, and persistence are values that define me and I am looking to build upon these traits in college.
