Jordin Jolley '18 Recruiting Profile

“Determination, perseverance, and hard work will always push you through”. These words are my inspiration and I live my life by them. I started competing in gymnastics when I was 3 and it was all I knew. I had big dreams for gymnastics, I wanted to go to the Olympics and participate in it in college. But life had other plans. I tore my labrum in my hip, taking me out of gymnastics and into physical therapy for eight months. By the time I went back, it was not the same. After thinking long and hard and consulting my mom and dad about it, I ended up quitting. I quit because with my injury I was unable to do gymnastics like I used to before my injury. I decided to move on. Making the decision to quit was not easy, it was like I was losing apart of myself. Going back to school every day, seeing people in the sports they loved made me feel worse than I already did. I felt like I was useless, unimportant, and a failure without gymnastics. I continued to feel that way for a while until I accepted that I was not a failure. I do not have feel sorry for myself anymore because I know that I can get through this. Since I loved sports so much, why not try a new one. I decided to try cheerleading since it was similar to gymnastics. After a couple of weeks in cheerleading, I was not enjoying it as much as I thought I would. It was too close to gymnastics. It was like I was hanging on to the past and that is not the right way to live. I needed something completely different. When junior year came around, I tried volleyball at my school and really liked it. Since I enjoyed volleyball so much, I joined a club team. I made the top sixteens regional team after only playing for two months. During the season I improved my skills and developed a real passion for the game. In senior year, I played volleyball again and made varsity after one year of volleyball. During the season, I was awarded MVP of the All-Tournament Team and was Charger of the Week at my school for my performance on the court. This experience taught that when life knocks you down or unexpected obstacles pop up, always get back up no matter what. Just because one door closes does not mean another will not. I also learned that each hardship you go through, you will always come out on the other side better, stronger, happier, and wiser. Overall sports taught me team work, leadership, to have confidence in myself, dedication, determination, and that hard work mixed with talent can get you anywhere. I do not belong to just one sport, I can do them all because I was born to be an athlete.