Mia Jolicoeur

• Caring
• Responsible
• Independent
• Focused
• Funny

In a team, I am the athlete that is always energetic and keeps everyone’s spirits up even if we are down by a lot of points. I am also super positive and encouraging. I love supporting my team even if I’m not actively on the court, because I strongly believe that every part plays a part.

I was offered a spot at a very intense training camp that was offer only (no tryout). It was a camp for some of the top athletes in the province, and I was invited to one of their camps for a week. I was extremely happy when I received that email because I have always been the underdog, and I was finally recognized and given a chance to show who I am and improve significantly.

Outside of sports, I like to read, travel, and spend time outdoors. I have been to many countries in Asia, Europe, and the Caribbean. When I travel, I always bring a book with me, and I also look for the most activities outside as I possibly can. I love to meet new people in new countries and learn about the cultures, as well as try new foods.

One of my role models is Vicky Savard. She is a player for the Canadian national volleyball team at 29 years old. She joined the team at a late age, but did not quit and kept working hard to make her dream come true. I find her inspiring to keep working hard for your goals and to never give up until its actually over. My other role model is a player from the university of Ottawa, Portia Cooper. She was an underdog at my age and she also joined late just like I did, she joined at 15U and put in a lot of work. She tried out for the provincial team but did not make it her first year and continued to work hard to make it her second year. My coach last year was also her coach, and he had told me that I was the next Portia Cooper, I have the skill, the ambition, the drive, and the ability to succeed because I put in the work even if I started late and was not given everything from the get go. I was not accepted to the provincial team last year, but I am trying again this year. I love her because she proved to me that not everyone’s journey is going to be easy or simple. I am not going to have everything fall into place without a tremendous amount of effort and I have to be willing to put in that effort just like she did.

I find that being a multi-sport athlete is super important in developing skills in your main sport. For example, I like to play table tennis, badminton, and tennis to help with hand-eye coordination, quick reflexes, and ball/birdie placement. It is also important to me because I find that if I play too much of one sport or only one sport, I will get bored with it and fall out of love with the sport. I also like to paddle board and rock climb to help with my stability and upper body strength.

I was accepted into the enriched program for science and French last year, and I was so happy to have that opportunity and be able to excel at what I love most. I also received Honour Roll, and I am extremely grateful to have these opportunities to learn and succeed and then be able to see my hard work that has paid off.

In University, I would like to attend a health-sciences/medical program. I would love to become a surgeon.

I envision my life in college/university as a life where I work hard in school and volleyball. I would also have a great group of friends with me throughout the journey of university.