Marina S.

Five words you can use to describe yourself on the court:

1. Happy
2. Passionate
3. Determined
4. Grit
5. Competitive

Five words you can use to describe yourself off the court

1. Cheerful
2. Kind
3. Helpful
4. Active
5. Studious

Describe how you work in a team with your partners

As a good team player, I strive to always provide support for my teammates both on the good days and not-so-good days. There are days where things don’t go according to plan, and we need to work through them. It is easier to go through such days when you have team members who support and cheer you up. I also celebrate our team wins and learn from our losses by going back to the drawing board to make corrections. With this understanding, we still stay motivated whenever we lose a game because we gave it our all.

Athletic highlights and how you felt when you received them

Our 3rd place finish at the Ontario beach championships in 2019 brought enormous joy to me. Competing in such a challenging setting against the best players in the province and crowning it with a bronze medal was a commendable feat. After a gruelling day of competition, my partner and I had to overcome obstacles by playing against tough opponents, and it was exhilarating to be at the podium.

On an individual level, I won the 2019 Leadership award winner (Toronto Titans). Winning this special award after being chosen by my coach and teammates meant a lot to me. I believe it resulted from my hard work as a leader on the team, staying positive, and always cheering for my teammates. My teammates knew I had their back and would give 100% effort at every time.

I was very excited with our team’s 3rd place finish at the 2020 International BVNE showcase (Toronto, ON in partnership with Six Pack Recruiting). Playing against teams that were several years older helped me realize that I could overcome mental and physical barriers to success. This was my first showcase, and I was happy with our results. The process throughout the day was also fantastic. I stayed positive, cheered on my teammate, and reminded myself to have fun.

Involvement in other sports or extracurricular activities. Why are they important?

I am involved in various extracurricular clubs at school, including the green club. This gives me an opportunity to meet new friends and spend time learning something new that I may not have been able to do before.

I also play Basketball and Soccer and participate in Horseback riding. I love being active and have a lot of fun with these sports. Riding horses is particularly enjoyable as I love animals and find the sport challenging.

Interests outside of volleyball and why you like them

Outside volleyball, I enjoy spending time with friends. It gives a great feeling laughing and having a good time in their company. Bike riding is another activity I love. Riding my bike allows me to explore nature and different areas in my city. Reading is another way I spend my time when I’m not playing volleyball. I learn to understand people and “live in their shoes” through reading.

Who are your role models and why?

Sophie Buckavitch is my role model. She is an accomplished, strong woman who works so hard. Sophie helped me improve my game tremendously when I worked with her. I am motivated by the fact that she sets a goal and achieved it by playing volleyball at the highest level.

Academic highlight and how you felt when you received them

I was honoured for my academic achievement last year. It felt great participating in beach volleyball and court volleyball and still being able to achieve that feat. Receiving the honour confirms my commitment to a strong academic performance while also competing in various volleyball tournaments and attending practices.

What program would you like to attend in school?

I am interested in attending a business program that will help to sharpen my business acumen. I will also like to use the skills I learned in school to create products that could help other athletes during competition. This includes on-the-go nutrition products when competing in hot weather and still needing to produce a strong performance.

How do you envision your school life in university?

I see myself learning new things every day that I can apply in my career. Having the support of my beach volleyball team throughout my University experience is something I look forward to. I also hope to meet new friends, compete with my volleyball team and watch them at practice. Finally, I see myself working hard to get excellent grades.