Indoor volleyball has always been my passion– so a few years ago when I learned that playing beach volleyball could help to improve my indoor game, I was all in. I expected that over the summer I would learn quick defense and adapt to read the court better. What I did not expect is that I would fall deeply in love with the sport so quickly. I adored the speed of the game and the competitive environment palpable within the sand. Nothing can quite compare to playing your heart out with your partner, sand beneath your toes and the sun beaming down on you. The rush of adrenaline when the game is on the line and you and your partner are responsible for the outcome. Despite this immediate love, there was one distinct issue when it came to beach volleyball– and that was opportunity. I live in a small rural community in Eastern Oregon, a place where wheat crops far outnumber residents, and opportunities for sports, especially beach volleyball, is limited. I was given the opportunity to try out with Kokua, a highly competitive club out of Spokane, Washington and made the elite team, but still there was a problem. Spokane was three and a half hours from where I lived and travelling during the week for practices seemed nearly impossible. Regardless, I knew beach volleyball was something I truly loved and if I had an opportunity to pursue it at a higher level, then any amount of travel would be worth it. With the help of my parents and club directors, I was able to train with the team over the spring and summer and my game improved immensely. Not only that, I fell deeper in love with the sport the more I played. This experience cemented to me what I had already begun to consider, that I wanted to pursue beach at the collegiate level. During my recruiting process, I found the college that I could truly see myself competing at for the next four years– The College of Idaho. I immediately felt that the program was the right fit, not only because of the competitive athletic focus, but the dedicated academic culture as well. Academics have always been incredibly important to me, and when choosing a college I wanted to make sure that it aligned with my goals and priorities for the future. During my time at the College of Idaho, I plan on studying political economy in hopes of applying my studies by working in the state legislature. Public policy has always been of interest to me, and I plan on converting this mere interest into a fulfilling career in which I am able to help garner real change that will help as many people as possible. My time as an athlete at the College of Idaho while balancing a rigorous course load will aid me tremendously in all future pursuits, and I know that my dedication to beach volleyball and to my academics will help me shine at the College of Idaho and in my post-collegiate career endeavors. I am extremely grateful for the opportunities I have been given to play beach volleyball, both club and collegiate, and I am incredibly grateful for the people in my life who have contributed to my ability to play this sport. But mostly I am grateful for beach volleyball for coming into my life and changing it for the better. I am excited to see what the future holds for me, and I know I owe so much of it to the incredible sport of beach volleyball.