Stephanie Paminiano '25 Recruiting Profile

Hi, my name is Stephanie, and I would love to study and major in nursing or marine biology for college. While majoring in the nursing field or marine biology, I would also love to play volleyball for college.

  I have been playing volleyball for a big portion of my life, and I started playing volleyball when I was in the 5th grade. After that I really fell in love with the sport. Due to how much I had played, I decided to join a league, and later on, I joined a club for even more practice during middle school. I had a blast playing at a more difficult level! I really enjoyed the challenge. I tried out for the 6th and 7th grade team and fortunately made it. During those 2 years, I played as a ds/ Libero. Unfortunately, during the last year of middle school, while I was in the club, I did not get to play due to the COVID 19 pandemic. While in the club for the last year of middle school, I tried something new and played as an outside hitter, but as previously stated, I did not get to finish my season because of COVID. Ever since then, I have been trying to get back into volleyball. Due to an ankle injury during the summer, I did not get to try out my freshmen year. Although sophomore year, when I tried out, I didn't qualify because I had lost some of my skills due to the prior 3 years of COVID. Even though I lacked the skills I once had, I worked on them. I played as much as I could after school and during the summer with my dad, brother, friends, and boyfriend. I tried to play volleyball as much as I could to achieve and break every milestone in front of me. I even went to every single volleyball conditioning I was able to go to. During my junior year, I tried out and came back stronger and more skilled than ever, but due to my grades from the prior year, I was denied the privilege of being on the team. After being denied, I was discouraged and heartbroken. I had worked so hard to get better than what I would have imagined, but I had focused too much on my passion. Ever since then, I have been working so hard on my grades this year to not make the same mistake and prevent that from happening again. My grades have been so much better, and I am very proud of myself. In spite of having to maintain good grades, I have still been improving and practicing my skills. Since school was over, I had more time on my hands, so during the summer, I started playing for the field house. To stay in shape and prepare for what's to come, I decided to play another season, which helped me grow, and to say volleyball has changed my life would be an understatement. When I play volleyball, I am the happiest I can ever be. Volleyball brings me so much joy that I can not begin to put it into words. 

  Playing this sport has helped me become more confident with myself and find my voice. Even while not playing, I feel more open with the world outside the court. Volleyball has even helped me while I am stressed or feeling down, and that is something I am beyond grateful for. When I am on that court, I put all of my worries, thoughts, and stress to the side and pour all my heart into playing. I would really say volleyball has become my happiness and comfort. There are so many reasons why I love this sport, whether that be it teaching me how to become mentally stronger or self accomplished. I feel so proud of becoming the daughter and athlete that my family has seen in me. I am so honored to make not only my family but my teammates proud. I am so lucky that I have support from my family, and I know no matter what, they will have my back to support my dreams and steps into becoming an even greater volleyball player.

 So despite all of the hardships that get in the way of my growth such as COVID, injuries, coaches not seeing how I truly play, and even grades I will never give up on this sport and will continue to thrive and prove others wrong, because volleyball is one of the things in life I am so certain about. My passion has always been volleyball, and I have always been 100% on that. All being said, I truly believe that I am a good  for college volleyball because I have so much I want to achieve in life, and there are so many stepping stones I want to climb.

college volleyball would be a huge step forward, and majoring in the nursing field or marine biology would be another. So, I will work even harder than before to get there for my family and myself because I have proved again and again that no matter the hardships, the emotional aspects, or intertwining school work I will crush every one of them and go beyond anyone's expectations.

 Thank you so much for taking your time to read!