Joyce Kuehn '20 Recruiting Profile

When I first started playing sports, it served mostly as an escape for me, just as it does for many other people. It allowed me to be in a space where all I had to focus on was the present, and the present was on the court. Then I realized it was a lot more than that, especially with volleyball. I loved the connections that came with the team. The growth and the hardships that shaped us as a team and for me as a player. I balanced multiple AP classes and other school activities with sports, yet it never felt like a chore. I managed my athletics and academics so that while school did come first, my passion for volleyball always lingered in the background. During my senior year of high school, I was diagnosed with dysthymia and I noticed that I was the happiest when I was on the court, playing either basketball or volleyball. My high school is relatively new and we are a division five school that barely won any games this year, but we came from nothing and made it something. I was never able to participate in any club leagues other than recreational but I made the most out of it and I'm constantly working on improving my character on the volleyball court and off. I was captain of all the women's varsity teams not because of my skill and experience but because of my attitude and determination for myself and my peers. 

My collegiate goals and aspirations are to continue on a path that I want to go down, and not what anyone else wants for me. I want to journey through environmental science with hopes of leaving a positive influence on the environment, contributing to saving our planet. I want to play volleyball in college because no one on my team or in lower divisions has ever thought about playing in college because of the lack of confidence they had due to lack of resources or division labels. Something that makes me different from other recruits is my commitment and determination, once I set my mind on something I work tirelessly to achieve it. Many of my coaches and practices were unorthodox, but as an athlete and student I'm always open to the help and advice to anyone who is willing to share it with me, and I'll definitely make the most out of it.