I was born and raised in Cottage Grove, Minnesota. I am an only child, and I graduated high school in 2022. After graduation I took a half gap year to save money for school and determine what I wanted to do as my next step. Now I am here at DCTC, just being awesome, vibing, and doing my thing!
My parents enrolled me in many different sports over the years, hoping I’d find one I truly loved. It took some time, but eventually, I discovered that passion in volleyball. I started playing on a recreational team when I was young and continued all the way through my sophomore year of high school. By then, I had joined a club team, which meant that once the school season ended, I’d have a short break before club season began. Unfortunately, during club season, I suffered a serious ankle injury, tearing three ligaments. That injury sidelined me for the rest of the season and marked a turning point in my journey. I was advised not to rush back into playing, as doing so could make the injury even worse. That’s when I got my first real glimpse into coaching. Instead of returning to the court as a player, I made the decision to step into a new role—coaching the sport I had come to love. It was a tough choice, but it opened up a whole new way for me to stay connected to volleyball.
Dogs have always been a part of my life. When I was younger, we had two male dogs named Tuffy and Midnight. I considered them my brothers—because to me, that’s exactly what they were. After one of them passed away, we waited a few months before bringing another dog into our family: Hallie. For a while, it was just Hallie. Then one day, we visited the Woodbury Humane Society, and I instantly fell in love with a shy black lab mix. What really caught my heart was her “broken ear,” which flopped in a unique way. At the time, her name was Betty, but once we adopted her, I renamed her Stellia. Hallie and Stellia quickly bonded. Hallie took on the role of guiding Stellia, helping her learn her way around the house and become part of the family. Sadly, just after Christmas this past year, Hallie passed away. It’s been just Stellia since then, but maybe one day, we’ll welcome another dog into our lives.
©EmChristianson