By Journalism student Ella S. and edited for clarity by New Life Academy.
NLA Girls Varsity Senior Volleyball Captain Marisa M. recently committed to South Dakota State University (SDSU) to play Division 1 Volleyball after trusting God’s plan and timing for her next step in life. What really sold Marisa on going to SDSU was how welcoming both the coaches and players were, as she was drawn to the energy and personable nature of the coaches along with the open and welcoming nature of all the girls on the team.
“I knew that SDSU was the right school when I stepped onto campus for the first time and I went on my visit. I just really liked the community and the location and how everyone was there to support one another. There’s lots of people who show up to the sporting events and there’s new facilities there, and overall, I just really like the community,” explains Marisa. A pivotal moment for Marisa during her tour of SDSU was the opportunity to observe the girls’ volleyball team practice. “It was important to me to take my time on my recruiting process because I didn’t want to rush it and then not find the right school,” explains Marisa. “My advice to someone who’s trying to get recruited is trust that God has a plan for you.”
Marisa had a checklist of things that she wanted in a school and, according to Marisa’s dad Sean, SDSU checked off most of them. “I will always remember that as we drove away from the SDSU visit I told her ‘That school just checked off every box that you have been asking for except warm weather,’” Mr. Michaelis says. “She told me, ‘I would rather have my family in the stands than warm weather. I’m going to SDSU.’”
On Monday, November 3, Marisa celebrated her commitment to SDSU with an official signing at New Life Academy joined by family, friends, teachers, and coaches who have encouraged and supported her every step of the way. Congratulations, Marisa, and best wishes as you continue your athletic and academic journey at SDSU!
Although it may seem like the most stressful part of Marisa’s commitment process was making the decision of where to go, it was actually instead the feeling of being behind everyone else in her class and not being the first to commit to a school. “The most stressful part was definitely when I saw my other teammates or people that I knew committing before me,” Marissa says. “It was just the stress of like feeling like I’m behind and they already know what they’re doing, and they have everything else figured out.”
