Kaitreanne Chojnacki

• Driven
• Committed
• Dependable
• Adventurous
• Humble

I am a very driven and focused person and like to encourage my teammates to work hard and bring the same intensity that I love to play with. I am encouraging and I support others by uplifting them in both their gameplay as well as off of the court. I ensure that my attitude allows for people to feel comfortable building a trusting relationship with me.

-2022 Aberhart Jr. Girls Volleyball Coaches Award (Grade 10)
-Co-captain of 2022-2023 indoor volleyball season
-Provincials 2023 15U Women All Star
-2023 Canuck Stuff Volleyball Heart and Hustle Award
-Selected to Team Alberta Beach 16U 2024

When I received these awards I felt pride in my skills and in my discipline for consistently pushing myself to become a better player and a better teammate. When I was named 15U Women’s Provincial All Star in 2023 l was surprised because there were so many great players on our team but I felt very thankful that the hard work I had put in throughout the season had been noticed. When I found out I made the 16U Team Alberta Beach team in 2024 I felt an overwhelming amount of excitement at the opportunity to work with very competitive coaches and players. Finally, when I was named co-captain of our club team, awarded with the Aberhart Jr. Girls Volleyball Coaches Award and the Canuck Stuff Volleyball Heart and Hustle award I felt gratitude towards the teammates and coaches who chose to recognize the commitment, trust and kindness that I had shown the team. This was accompanied with a sense of contentment in knowing that leadership can come in many forms and that I had been contributing in a way that benefited the team both on and off the court.

Outside of sports I love to explore a multitude of other hobbies with my friends and family. I particularly like reading and learning different crafting techniques such as crochet because they help me feel more calm and grounded. I enjoy working out for many of the same reasons but also because it makes me feel healthy and strong. Finally, I am also a very adventurous person who loves to go on hikes, camping trips, backpacking trips and bike rides etc. because they fuel my curiosity and help me grow closer with my family and friends. I have been going on these kinds of outings since I was little and so they are a big part of who I am.

I admire my coaches for the incredible amount of work they put into bringing their passion for volleyball to us players and who show up with a smile and a positive attitude whether it is sunny outside or pouring rain. I also admire their dedication towards growing the sport of beach volleyball here in Calgary and creating opportunities to pursue the sport. In addition to my coaches I look up to my parents who sacrifice so much time and energy and who choose to show up and provide their continued support. They are always there to uplift me through good times and equally through injury and setbacks.

Track and Field: I participated in the track and field program at my High school because it allowed me to increase my athleticism without overloading on training for volleyball. I enjoyed how much it has pushed me out of my comfort zone and challenged a different aspect of my skills. In addition it was important for me to meet more people within my school and strengthen the connection I feel with the community at Aberhart.

-Scored a 97.5% on the DELF B2 exam (2022)
-Honour Roll (2023 and 2024)
-French Immersion Achievement award -for French Language Arts 10-1 (2023)
-French Immersion Achievement award for Mathematics 10 (2023)
-Certificate of recognition of excellence in Mathematics 10 (2023)
-Certificate of recognition of excellence in French Language Arts 10-1 (2023)
-Certificate of recognition of excellence in English Language Arts 10-1 (2023)
-Certificate of recognition of excellence in Social Studies 10-1 (2023)
-Certificate of recognition of excellence in Science 10 (2023)
-French Immersion Achievement award for Social Studies 20-1 (2024)
-French Immersion Achievement award for Mathematics 20-1 (2024)
-Certificate of recognition of excellence in Chemistry 20 (2024)
-Certificate of recognition of excellence in Mathematics 20-1 (2024)
-Certificate of recognition of excellence in Sports Medicine 20 (2024)

When I received these awards I felt an enormous amount of pride in the amount of hard work I consistently put into my academics. It also reinforced my confidence in the fact that the sacrifices and the late nights that have gone into my studies are worth it and helping to pave the way for a future that I’m excited about. I proved to myself that I am capable of pursuing both sport and education at a high level. Finally, the awards which relate to French help me feel connected to my family and my bilingual identity because it is not always easy to nurture love for a language when it is not primarily spoken where you live.

Although I have yet to narrow down exactly which major I would like to pursue, I am looking to enter a science and health sciences related field. Kinesiology, dental hygiene, pharmacy, nursing and marine biology are among the programs I am most interested in.

I see myself honing my volleyball skills and taking my sport to the next level. Despite having already learnt to balance my studies and volleyball; for example, waking up at 5 am on school days in the winter as this was the only training time the beach volleyball facility in my hometown had available, I also look forward to taking on the responsibility of living away from home and all of the associated challenges. Additionally, I look forward to experiencing the sense of community and spirit that university and team sports offer; meeting people from around the world who share the same love for volleyball.