Written by Vicky Carrasquillo
Shelby Spitz is a senior at Concordia University Chicago (CUC). She plays volleyball and is also a Residential Assistant (RA). Spitz has a number of good qualities as she is a role model for her peers. She is a great student and an equally great athlete. She has great energy and has allowed me to share this and express her story to others. She has a lot of qualities that she wants to give back in her life now, and as an older adult. She has a passion for leading others and helping the people around her with whatever they may need, whether it be volleyball related, or as an RA. She is inspiring to others.
Shelby Spitz was born on October 10, 1997, in Urbana, Illinois and grew up in Paxton, Illinois and attended Buckley High School. She was lead at CUC by her mother, great grandfather, and coach who also went here. She is a Secondary Education major with a specialization in History and a minor in Theology. Religion is very important to her as she went to Lutheran schools her whole life and is now at CUC. She initially did not want to attend CUC but gave it a chance for her family members. As soon as she stepped on campus, she knew this was the place she wanted to go. She wanted to attend a smaller school, something that had the same feel as the small town she grew up in. CUC was also able to give her the skills she needed to pursue and study education and of course, volleyball. Her passion is to be able to teach in a Christian high school and also still be involved with the coaching side of volleyball.
Spitz has a knack for helping others achieve success throughout all parts of her life and wants to project that into her future by being a teacher. She represents this sense of leadership now by leading her teammates on and off the court. She likes helping them perfect their craft but also enjoys assisting them off the court in their lives by giving them advice and helping in any way they need, especially for the younger students that may need a little guidance. She likes to observe her teammates and help them succeed to become better people and athletes. This is something I admire very much because, even though you may need help in making sure you excel at your sport, Shelby makes sure that you excel in everything you do.
Shelby Spitz has a very deep passion for volleyball as she was involved with it at a young age. She first discovered it in middle school, as her school’s women’s volleyball was very successful in their regional experience, which inspired her to play. She wanted to be apart of a team and contribute to her school’s success. Shelby decided to pursue this in high school where she honed in on her skills and started to craft her success in the sport. She contributed her best and made good relationships with her coaches. She has a special relationship with one of her coaches, Mary Gowan, which ended up here at CUC as well. Gowan was an inspiring person in Shelby’s life as this relationship helped pursue Shelby’s choice in college. They kept in touch, and Gowan has been able to mentor Shelby here at CUC as well.
Shelby Spitz enjoys everything that comes with the territory of being on a team. She likes the bond, or sisterhood, the team brings her and genuinely likes building these relationships. She enjoys being a part of something and deepening her relationships with her teammates so they grow and become closer. The better the relationship off the field, the better the communication is on the court. She feels that she has a lot in common with the girls as they all like to compete and represent CUC. She feels being on a team is just bigger that one’s self, because there is a bigger picture here and likes to contribute success to the school, and her team.
Spitz has some advice for students entering college that might want to pursue being a student-athlete. Shelby feels that this is the hardest thing to do in this time of your life. It is a choice, and it is one of the hardest decisions you will make in college. On the upper hand, you will create lifelong relationships that will be worthwhile. You will be able to relate to these people, being your teammates, and have a shoulder to lie on for support athletically, and academically. You are able to learn time management and to be successful in balancing student life and athlete life. You learn things you didn’t in high school, which you will be able to apply later in your life. Shelby also wants to express that you enjoy every minute of it because it goes by fast.
Spitz has been her RA for the past two semesters and feels that she has done a good job and does everything she’s supposed to do. Spitz is an RA to Arius Gatson. “I love how extroverted she is. She has the personality to get along with anyone and she has no problem when getting to know others,” said Arius Gatson. Spitz has an effect on people that makes them comfortable around her. She is an easy person to talk to and genuinely wants the people around her to be happy and comforted. She makes a great leader and mentor and will one day lead a class of her own. Spitz will leave a lasting handprint on society of someone that helps, lead, and coaches others in all aspects of life.
