By: Lola O'Leary
KENNESAW, Ga. - The volleyball court and the classroom may look like two completely different places, but for Kennesaw State volleyball student-athlete and student teacher Olivia Burrage, the lessons learned in one have followed her into the other.
As Burrage enters the final stages of her college volleyball career, she is also preparing for what comes next. While balancing practices, games and her own coursework, she is spending her days in a first-grade classroom, gaining experience in the career she hopes to pursue after graduation.
For Burrage, volleyball has been about much more than what happens between the lines. She says Kennesaw State's team culture feels different from what she has seen at other schools. Her teammates have become some of her closest friends, and she values how connected the team is both on and off the court. That strong sense of community has become one of the defining parts of her experience at Kennesaw State.
That connection extends beyond the players to the entire program. From her teammates to the coaching staff, Burrage says she knows she can turn to anyone for support.
"It's the people and the staff," Burrage said. "You can be close to your teammate, but Kennesaw State goes bigger than your teammate. You know that you're in good hands. Not only teammates, but the staff too you can go to anyone for anything. It's so close-knit."
After years of competing, Burrage has learned that being an athlete is more than winning games. Volleyball has taught her how to push through challenges, both on and off the court.
"Volleyball has taught me that I can do hard things," Burrage said.
Throughout middle and high school, volleyball was an area where Burrage found confidence and a strong sense of identity. Entering college brought a different kind of challenge as she adjusted to a new school, new teammates and an unfamiliar environment. What once felt intimidating has helped her become more open-minded and comfortable speaking up, showing how much, she has grown since arriving at Kennesaw State.
Those lessons have become especially valuable as Burrage prepares for a career outside of athletics. Her path to teaching was not necessarily the plan when she first arrived at college. Burrage originally considered nursing because she wanted a career centered around helping people. But after her first year of classes, she realized it was not where she wanted to stay.
As she explored other ways to make an impact, Burrage found herself drawn to working with children. Now, she is putting that passion into practice.
She is currently student-teaching in Megan Eubanks' first-grade classroom at Hayes Elementary School, spending her days learning what it takes to lead a class while balancing the heavy demands of being a Division I student-athlete.
"It opens my eyes to the bigger picture," Burrage said.
For Burrage, the experience has allowed her to see teaching from the other side of the classroom, not just as a career, but as an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of her students. At the same time, she is able to continue pursuing the sport that has shaped so much of who she is. As she looks toward life after volleyball, Burrage is finding a way to carry out the lessons from one passion into another.
Her connection with children began long before student teaching. Growing up, the Jefferson, Ga. native's parents owned a volleyball facility, where she was surrounded by young athletes and eventually began working with kids individually.
That experience helped shape her love for working with children, but her first-grade classroom has given her a new perspective.
"There's never a dull moment," Burrage said. "They're the funniest people I know. I have enough for a lifetime."
The Jefferson High School graduate said one of her favorite parts of the experience is getting to know the children a little more each day. She enjoys hearing the way they talk, learning their personalities, and watching them grow as individuals. For her, those everyday moments have made the experience especially meaningful.
While the classroom is different from a volleyball court, Burrage has quickly realized that many of the skills she has developed as an athlete still apply: communication, patience, preparation, and leadership.
And perhaps most importantly, time management.
Balancing student teaching with the demands of being a Division I athlete has taught Burrage how to stay organized and make the most of her time. But beyond managing a busy schedule, volleyball has also given her the grit to keep going when things get difficult. She has learned to approach challenges with the mindset that even when something feels hard, she has faced difficult things before and knows she can find a way through them.
Those lessons have become valuable not only as she prepares for a career in teaching, but also as she navigates the final chapters of her volleyball career.
That mentality is put to the test every week.
Burrage's student teaching days begin at 7 a.m. and run until 2:45 p.m. From there, she heads to lift and practice from 3 to 6 p.m. By the time she gets home, she is preparing lesson plans, packing meals and getting ready for the next day. She has learned that balancing both careers requires careful planning and sometimes sacrifice. Through it all, the support of the people around her has helped make the demanding schedule possible.
Her support system at Kennesaw State has played an important role in allowing her to pursue both volleyball and her future career. She specifically credits assistant coach Ashley Beyer for helping her manage the everyday demands of her schedule, even down to making sure she has something to eat on busy days.
"Communication is so important," Burrage said. "I've been very homed in on my sport, but you still have to stay focused on your career."
Her coaches and staff have also created an environment that allows her to prioritize what needs her attention most, understanding that her responsibilities extend beyond the volleyball court.
While Burrage is learning how to balance her responsibilities, her students are teaching her lessons of their own.
"Kindness and grace," Burrage said. "Everyone has a different life story. Seeing six-year-olds who have been through more than I have in my 22 years of life, it really puts things into perspective."
Those lessons will stay with Burrage long after she leaves the classroom as a student teacher.
As her five-year collegiate volleyball career moves closer to its conclusion, Burrage is beginning to think about what it will mean to step away from the sport that has shaped so much of her life.
For her, the end is not about leaving behind everything volleyball has given her. It is about taking those lessons into whatever comes next.
"I want to set an example where you can do anything you want if you put your mind to it," Burrage said. That example will continue into her career as a teacher.
Burrage knows the teamwork required on a volleyball team does not disappear when she leaves the court. In the classroom, she will work with students, parents, guardians, and fellow teachers. Lesson plans require preparation. Classrooms require communication. And helping students succeed requires the same willingness to support others that she has learned through years as a teammate.
For Burrage, the next chapter is already beginning.
After graduation, she hopes to continue her education through a master's degree while exploring opportunities such as individual lessons and substitute teaching. Her volleyball career may be nearing its final chapter, but the lessons she has gained from the sport will not end with the final whistle.
Instead, Burrage will carry them with her into the classroom, where she is preparing to become the person helping shape the next generation.
