11. Embracing Change: A Volleyball Journey with Paula Cerame

Have you ever wondered what it's like to play at the highest level possible? Today we talk with Tribe Alumni, and former Indiana University libero Paula Cerame, and we explore that concept. Paula started her college volleyball career at the University of Florida, where, as a member of the 2018 class, she was part of the top 2 recruiting class in the nation, where she was recognized by Prepvolleyball.com for being "a diamond in the rough of the recruiting class, for her athleticism and playmaking ability". Fast forward three years later after the COVID season, and Paula transferred from Florida to Indiana University, where she proceeded to start every match as a libero over the next two seasons. Her career at IU included being named captain during her senior year, has played in the toughest arenas in college volleyball, even beating the #5 team in the country on their own floor, as well as breaking the IU record for Big Ten digs in a single season. Paula also has experience at the international level, as she has been invited to play with the Puerto Rican national program, and has spent time in their gym, and even playing in international competitions. Now, Paula is getting the opportunity to play professionally, with the Real Pro Volleyball team in Orlando!Paula joins us today for a candid conversation, as she takes us through both of her recruiting journeys, and what she did differently the second time around. She gives us actionable advice on steps that she thinks recruits should be paying attention to, and also shares some feedback about what she would do differently, if she had to start all over and do it again. She shares about some mistakes she made about not asking enough tough questions, to discover the information that will truly affect your college playing experience. Paula gives us insight into how to handle the mental side of college sports, talks about the advantages of a sports psychologist,and how relationships with those around you, can play an instrumental role in shaping your self-confidence. Want to make sure you aren't restricting your academic options when it comes to getting accepted into your dream school? Go visit our partner, Your College Contact, and use the code TRIBE20 at checkout, to receive 20% off any of your services. To sign up for their free consultation and learn more about their other services, go to their website at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.yourcollegecontact.com/⁠⁠ If you find today's show entertaining, or valuable, please take the time to share the episode with a teammate, friend, or other person who you feel could benefit from the information. And if you could take a minute to go into your listening app, scroll down to the bottom of the show page, if you could leave a rating and a review, that helps our ability to continue to improve the quality of the show, and even reach more impactful guests. Thank you for being a part of our tribe!