By Ariel Casida
There are no words to describe what a monumental impact that family has on us. For Lillian Jeffery, this statement rings true. She says that her parents have made the biggest positive impact on her life. “My mom and dad are my biggest supporters. They have always pushed me to be my best and supported me in everything I’ve done,” she says. Lillian’s biggest role model is her dad; teaching her that hard work pays off and not to give up. She said, “I couldn’t ask for a better dad to push me forward and support me.”
She is currently a Junior at Stillwater High School and plays volleyball. The highest moment in her career so far was her first varsity game last year and was thrilled to have no errors and all kills. As much as she is involved in volleyball, she is currently branching out this year to explore new activities. Her favorite subject is English, and her favorite teachers are her math teacher, Mr. Porter, and her elementary school teacher, Mrs. Cryer. “They both are such positive influences and supportive people that have pushed me so far academically,” she tells us.
In her free time, Lillian likes to hang out with friends, work out, and play volleyball. She first started playing volleyball in the 8th grade, after getting encouragement from her mom try it out. She’s not sure about her plans after high school, but she’s considering going to college through volleyball and studying to become a physical therapist.
Playing sports has taught Lillian perseverance. “As an athlete, I am bound to have off days, but what matters is how I respond to it and grow from it. Sometimes I show up to practice sore or just exhausted from a long day at school, but if I don’t push myself through a practice, I won’t be able to push myself mentally through a game,” she says. Her advice to other athletes is “never give up, and always give 110%. Every chance you get, you need to go all out on and prove yourself every day. “