“When I finally tried volleyball, I really felt like it was something I’d want to pursue.”

Malia Shaghasi

“My mom had always loved this sport when she was little, and she wouldn’t let me try any other sport except volleyball or basketball, and I always saw these volleyball games [on TV] and I just always wanted to play, so I finally did it, and my mom was really excited but I felt like I was doing it more for myself than her, and I tried out, and fell in love with it … I have bruises every single day, but it’s fun, because it means you’re committed to keeping the ball up in the air … I’m passionate about volleyball because I just always wanted something to hold on to … everybody has these things that they’re passionate about, like dance or math or like science bowl, and I just never had that, and then I finally tried volleyball and I really felt like it was something I’d want to pursue.”