Kimberly Gonzalez '23 Recruiting Profile

 As a child, I saw my siblings be involved in extracurricular activities. This inspired me to follow the same path, more specifically my sister's path when it came to competitive volleyball. Despite starting in a more casual environment, I fell in love with it instantly.  I developed a strong passion for it because it served as an outlet for the struggles I experienced at home and volleyball soon enough became a way of self-care. Growing up, I was taught that to get what you want, you need to work for it. Moreover, I applied this idea to both sports and academics by pushing through when times were the hardest. Throughout my years of playing volleyball, I learned how to push past my limits, adapt to new settings, effectively run a team, and work with new people quickly and easily. As a result of these skills, I was given the chance to be a leader in my middle school team as well as my sophomore and junior years of high school. Overall, this sport has helped me overcome my struggles at home, at school, and in extracurricular activities. In dedicating myself to volleyball I learned how to be a well-rounded player and how to quickly perform at a rapid rate.

By learning these volleyball skills, I have become encouraged to go above and beyond and have been led to want to play at an even more competitive pace. It has not only persuaded me to compete at a college level but also driven me to compete in academics. I want to be able to excel in the things I enjoy doing: volleyball and learning new materials such as veterinarian and illustration. Though I have little knowledge in both fields, I am excited to learn and grow from these studies. As a leader and competitive student-athlete, I know that I will impact any school I choose in a positive direction because I am a passionate and hard-working individual who aspires to guide others on an effective path. Through it all, I want to pass on the lesson that I've been taught: to get what you want, you must work for it.