Personal Statement
Dear whom it may concern,
My name is Harry Hughes, I am an 18 year old Opposite Hitter and Middle Blocker from the regional town of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. I have played volleyball for over 6 years now and it had become the sport I live and breath. I have played in a variety of competition ranging from local regional competitions and statewide club competitions to state titles and U19 state championship tournaments. I go to a regional boarding school called Ballarat Clarendon College and while it is difficult to find like-minded people in the volleyball community to train,play and coach with in a regional town, This hasn’t stopped me from training, playing and coaching in a variety of settings in 2024.
I voluntarily coach teams within the Melbourne and Ballarat volleyball communities, as I aim to provide the experience for younger athletes who want to improve and upskill that I was never able to receive at a younger age. Trying to share my skills and knowledge within the volleyball community
My desire to attend U.S college and to play indoor volleyball is fueled by my goals of:
- - Playing Semi-Pro in South East Asia or Europe
- - To connect, bond and thrive in a hard working team/community between like minded people, no matter the application
- - To place myself in challenging, evolving and constructive environments to become the best player, communicator and person I can be
- - To further develop my understanding of alternative and different experiences from around the world.
I am a dedicated, hard-working athlete who is strong a bouncing back from a dissapoint result, event or tournament to reflect and improve on my performance. I take every opportunity presented to me (athletic or not), there is no harm in trying something new and I know I can always return to where I was. Hence why I moved schools to Ballarat Clarendon in 2023 when the opportunity arose. I’m a resilient and strong athlete who values clear and effective communication between fellow team members, coaches and everyone in between. I thrive for feedback and i can’t get enough of it. As a player, I most strongly value those who can provide brutally honest feedback, prioritising my mind over my heart to be able to continue to progress to the best possible player I can be.
On top of this, I am a Vice-School Captain of Clarendon College and partake in a variety of activities for my passions. This includes being the lead percussionist in 3 senior ensembles, Representing Clarendon as captain of the (school) senior men's varsity volleyball team and sharing my passion for the environment within the sustainability committee and my social enterprises.