Marissa Arriaga '17 Recruiting Profile

    I am the oldest of 3 children, and I am a member of a family that is deeply-rooted in the importance of family, the value of love, and the belief that one must work hard to get the things that they deserve in life. While there were times that I did not fully grasp the true meaning of these values, as I matured, I began to understand them more and more. My mother and father have always given me the support that I needed to become successful, and I have tremendous love and respect for both. They are both very hard workers, they are dedicated to their families and their children, and encouraged me to go after my goals and dreams since I was a little girl. Although I adore both of my parents, my true role model is my mother; she exemplifies beauty, hard work, loyalty, and dedication, and these are qualities that I work to develop in myself daily.

    My mother’s encouragement is what helped me develop my love for volleyball, and I began playing freshman year. During this time, I qualified for the Junior Varsity team and began to increase my skill level as well as my passion for the game. I continued playing Junior Varsity my sophomore year, and transitioned to the varsity level for my junior and senior seasons. Because of my continued growth as a player and a leader, I was selected as the Varsity Captain and given the opportunity to participate with the Atlanta Extreme and 41 South Volleyball Club. The exposure I gained through the external clubs taught me to be open to opportunities in terms of both leadership and listening skills because I was introduced to new drills, new people, and the importance of being able to communicate with people from different walks of life.

    With every experience, I could relate them to other areas of my life. Despite my love for the game of volleyball, I know it is not possible if I am not disciplined in my academics. While I admit that I have not always been the greatest student, I realized that my academics are more important than my athletics. As such, I started to get help in school in preparation for both my regular tests and my college admission tests. One of my ultimate goals is to become a nurse, and I can use many of the skills I’ve developed on the volleyball court to help me pursue nursing. Unfortunately, like many, I’ve lost loved ones along the way. While these tragedies could become setbacks, I use them to drive me harder, and I know that if I continue to develop as a student and a leader, I can transfer those skills into college and become a great nurse as well. I know that will not only make my parents proud, but I will be proud of myself as well.