The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Ten Questions With Paulina Prieto Cerame
08.25.2016 | Volleyball
Senior Paulina Prieto Cerame selected 10 questions that fans submitted via @TexasVolleyball Twitter and Instagram to answer.
1. What was the hardest thing to adjust to from high school to college volleyball?
PPC: I think the hardest thing about the adjustment didn't even have to do much with volleyball, but more about the lifestyle change from living at home to being a student athlete in college.
With great resources and opportunity comes a lot of responsibility. Learning how to manage those responsibilities for the first time while being away from family and loved ones is hard, but it's part of growing up, becoming independent, and it's what college is all about.
There's so much to learn, so much change--and change is not always easy. You will be tested more than you ever have been, but you grow so much in just four years.
They will be the best and toughest years as you learn to know yourself more and what you are here to do.
2. How did it feel when you got a chance to play for your country?
PPC: This past summer, I got the opportunity to represent my country of Puerto Rico in qualifying, for the first time ever, to the Olympic Games in Rio. It was amazing to be a part of that and see how our country came together over that weekend. Although I was not picked to be part of the team that actually went to the Olympics, I am glad I did it and I am grateful to all those who showed their support and love.
3. What is your mentality coming into your senior season?
PPC: I want to win another national championship. Everything I do is based on that.
I have grown so much as a player here in Texas and we have come so close the last two years I have been here, but this year I plan on going out with a bang and we have the team to be able to.
4. Why do you wear #19?
PPC: #19 has become my favorite number. I wore #9 at my high school, Palmer Trinity, and at Penn State for my first two years in college, but when I transferred, Amy Neal still wore #9 so I took on #19. I like the change.
5. Why did you come to UT?
PPC: UT is where I've always belonged. It's evident to myself and everyone who truly knows me.
I made the choice to go to Penn State in high school and I learned so much from my experience there, but I am truly happy here at Texas.
UT, in my opinion, has the best coaching staff and resources you can get in the whole country. I will always be a Longhorn.
6. What makes volleyball special to you?
PPC: Volleyball has taught me so much about myself, my faith, and life. I've met some incredible people through the sport and gotten some pretty incredible opportunities because of it as well. It's a lot like life and in many ways, prepared me for things outside of it. I am nowhere near being done with it.
7. What is your favorite candy?
PPC: My favorite candy would have to be chocolate. Anything with chocolate will turn my mood around.
8. How do you rebound from a tough loss?
PPC: "The most successful people have the memory of a fish" -- meaning that you forget very easily.
That's something I'm trying to learn when it comes to losing. I hate losing more than I love winning. The biggest thing to remember after tough losses is that it's not about you, you have a group that lost with you (your teammates and your coaching staff).
You can't let a tough loss beat you down and affect how you go about the next one. It's what you learn from it and you move on.
9. What's the biggest obstacle you've had to overcome and how did it make you stronger?
PPC: The biggest obstacle I've had to overcome in my life I work on overcoming every day and that's the "other voice" as I like to call it.
It's incredible how many thoughts run through the mind each day and what you do with those is so important for your success and happiness. You can either let that "other voice" or fear beat you down, or you can be a voice of light, truth, and love for yourself.
What you tell yourself is the most important thing you will learn to do for the rest of your life.
10. How do you get pumped up for big games?
PPC: My routine for games can vary, but the things I always make sure I do before I play are clearing the mind from all other things that may be going outside of volleyball and then not doing much.
I like to be relaxed before I play. It's easier to execute for me when I have a clear mind and just let the game come to me. And this includes big games.
If you judge a game on whether its big or not, you are automatically changing who you are as a player and how you go about yourself based on external factors.
All games are an opportunity to get better and get to know yourself as a person and player more, no matter who it is that's across the net.
So whether I'm playing a regular season game, or I'm playing for the national championship, it's just another game of volleyball to me.
Putting on a Texas jersey every game day is one of the greatest pride, joy, and blessings I have ever and will ever experience.
