Meet Miguel Peña-Lugo
1. Tell us a little about yourself — your age, school, and what you enjoy doing outside of volleyball.
🗣️ I'm 17 years old and currently a student at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus. Outside of volleyball, I enjoy making music and watching anime.
2. How did you get started in volleyball, and what made you want to continue playing?
🗣️ I started playing volleyball in the seventh grade, when I joined my high school team. What made me want to continue was my love for the process of getting better at the sport. It's a great feeling waking up every day knowing that I can work toward something that I love.
3. What has been your most memorable or proudest volleyball achievement so far?
🗣️ So far, I'd say my proudest moment was representing Antigua and Barbuda at the CAC Games. It was such an incredible feeling being among other high-level athletes, learning as much as I could, and taking in the entire experience.
4. What does representing Antigua and Barbuda as a national athlete mean to you?
🗣️ Representing Antigua and Barbuda means carrying the pride of a nation on my back. It means playing my heart out and making everyone at home proud. It means creating a lasting impression of who we are and, hopefully, helping to create a name and legacy for Antigua and Barbuda that will never be forgotten.
5. How did you feel when you found out you received the UWI scholarship?
🗣️ I felt extremely happy and honored to receive the scholarship. It's a big step in my academic journey, and I feel truly blessed to have been given the opportunity to study at such an amazing university.
6. What will you be studying at UWI, and why did you choose this area of study?
🗣️ Currently, I'm studying Sports Coaching. I chose this area of study because I believe this degree will allow me to give back to my community as a coach. I also believe it can broaden my knowledge and create more opportunities for me as an athlete, which could help me become a better player.
7. How do you plan to balance your studies with volleyball?
🗣️ I plan to balance everything through scheduling and effective time management. With those two techniques, it becomes easier to manage my academics, athletics, and even my social life outside of those two areas.
8. Who have been some of the people who have supported or encouraged you along the way?
🗣️ I'm extremely grateful to have a family that supports me throughout my journey. In particular, my mother and father have been with me since the beginning and have seen all the hardships and challenges I've faced to get to where I am today.
My first coach, Coach Randy, has also been an instrumental part of my journey. He has supported me since the beginning of my career and continues to do so, even though I have already graduated.
9. Where do you see yourself in the next 3–5 years, both academically and in volleyball?
🗣️ In the next 3–5 years, I hope to have graduated from UWI and to be pursuing opportunities to play volleyball professionally overseas.
10. What is one goal you would really like to accomplish as a volleyball player?
🗣️ My ultimate goal in volleyball is to represent Antigua and Barbuda as a professional player. Whether it is on the beach or indoors, my goal is to put Antigua and Barbuda on the map in the professional volleyball scene.
11. What advice would you give to other young athletes in Antigua and Barbuda who want to succeed in both school and sport?
🗣️ My advice would be to never give up on yourself when things get hard. The journey is not an easy one, and there will be days when you doubt it all. But those are the days when you have to push through and prove to yourself how badly you want to see yourself succeed, despite what others might say and despite what you might tell yourself.
12. Is there anything else you would like people to know about you or this new chapter in your life?
🗣️ I want people to know that this is just the beginning. I know there's so much more out there, and I'm ready to make my mark and make a statement for myself.
