Whether setting her teammates the ball or “setting herself up for success”  in academic life, Brooklyn Burns (‘22) remained consistent through challenges. Now, as a senior at California Polytechnic State University, Burns is a Division I volleyball athlete whose career reflects both adversity and achievement.

Burns began playing volleyball in after-school camps at the age of 7. At 10 years old, she competed with Wave Volleyball Club, drawn to the environment because of her “love of the club, the girls and spending nights after school with teammates.”

“Volleyball became such a huge part of my life because of the team culture,” Burns said. “It wasn’t an individual sport. I loved competing alongside my friends. That sense of community is what kept me going.”

During her high school years, Burns played as a setter on the varsity girls volleyball team. She was awarded First Team All-California Interscholastic Federation San Diego, First Team All-Coastal League, American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) High School Honorable Mention All-America Team and AVCA High School All-Region Team. She was also awarded the Alex Smith Courage In Sports Award.

Burns is grateful for all that the school’s program offered her during her formative years.

“TPHS’s athletics are incredibly competitive, and I didn’t fully realize that until I got to college,” Burns said. “High school volleyball was just as competitive as club. When I talked to teammates in college, I realized not everyone has that experience.”

Across the state and nation, the school is known for its top competitive athletics atmosphere, which allows sports programs to produce DI athletes.

“Those four years taught me how to compete, how to represent something bigger than myself, and how to take pride in my team and school,” Burns said. “I learned so much from older players when I was younger, and then I got to be that leader as a senior.”

Burns “proudly identifies as a Torrey Pines alumna,” crediting “its culture, competitiveness and memories” with shaping her identity.

During her senior high school year, in February of 2022, Burns was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Cancer.

“I started chemotherapy shortly after [I was diagnosed] — I would have two weeks off treatment and then rest for the next two weeks,” Burns said. “By April 26, about a month and a half later, I was told I was cancer-free.”

During her treatment, Burns was unable to attend school or play volleyball because her immune system was compromised. She enrolled in online school.

“I would go to club practices and sit alone in an office just to watch,” Burns said. “That was basically my social interaction at the time.”

The San Diego and volleyball communities were “incredible” to Burns during this mentally and physically difficult period. 

“People reached out from everywhere,” Burns said. “Even people I never expected [reached out]. That support made such a difference in helping me return to normal life.”

With her community’s support, Burns returned to school in May of 2022 and attended senior festivities to graduate alongside her friends and peers.

“When I came back, [the school] did a spirit day where everyone wore hats in support because I had lost my hair,” Burns said. “Looking back, that meant more to me than I realized at the time.”

After fighting and surviving cancer, Burns learned life lessons that would guide her on her journey.

“[This] experience made me realize how precious life is,” Burns said. “It gave me a deeper appreciation for my family, friends, school, and volleyball. I entered college with a renewed joy for life, and that mindset has stayed with me ever since.”

With the support of many people in her life, Burns decided on Cal Poly. 

“Kevin Hodge, my recruiting coordinator at Wave, and Rachel Morris really emphasized choosing a place where I’d still want to be if I couldn’t play volleyball,” Burns said. “That perspective changed everything for me. I took a visit to San Luis Obispo without really knowing anything about it, and it ended up being the best decision of my life.”

Entering Cal Poly, Burns did not have “any expectations” after being “burned out” from volleyball.

“I honestly didn’t know how things would go,” Burns said. “But those four years were the best of my life. The coaches and teammates gave me a support system and made Cal Poly feel like home. They taught me not only how to be a better volleyball player, but how to be a better person and how to navigate life.”

Burns finished the last season of her DI volleyball career this past month, describing the time as the “best 13 years of her life.” For her last season, Burns took on a different type of role as an assistant coach to conclude her time at Cal Poly.

Like other high school athletes who dream of playing at the “next level,” Burns’ priority was finding a strong volleyball program.

“I committed kind of late compared to other girls on my club team, right before my senior year of high school,” Burns said. “At the time, I wasn’t really looking for the right things. I only cared about the volleyball program, not the school itself.”

Burns believes that Cal Poly’s coaching staff and team “made it feel like a family.” She credits this community to her coaching staff, including Caroline Walter, Jason Borchin, Addie Picha and Neal McIvor.

“They’ve created such a special and unique culture, one that values you as a person just as much as an athlete,” Burns said. “Especially in today’s college athletics environment with NIL and transfers, Cal Poly stands out. Very few athletes transfer out, and that speaks volumes about the program.”

“The most challenging part was managing expectations and burnout,” Burns said. “I came from programs where I played a lot, and in college, that isn’t always the case. That adjustment was hard, both physically and mentally. I experienced burnout early in my college career, but having open conversations with my coaches helped me work through it.”

Comparing the different types of student-athlete schedules in high school and college, Burns was able to find consistency.

“Cal Poly does a great job balancing academics and athletics,” Burns said. “In high school, you’re in class all day and then practice after school. In college, practices, lifts, and classes are spread throughout the day. But having daily practices and lifting in high school really prepared me for the grind of college athletics.”

As Burns looks back, she notes that the most rewarding part was the “people and the memories,” like when her volleyball team qualified for the Sweet 16, making her senior year “unforgettable.” 

After graduating in the coming spring with a degree in psychology, along with a minor in exercise and sports studies, Burns plans to pursue graduate school at Cal Poly, studying psychology.

Burns’s advice to younger athletes is to “enjoy the process and don’t tie your worth to playing time or outcomes.”

“Choose a school you’d be happy at, even without your sport,” Burns said. “Your journey won’t be perfect, but if you stay grateful and grounded, it will be worth it.”

Looking back on her journey with cancer, Burns believes it impacted her “outlook on life.” 

“I don’t think about [cancer] every day anymore, but when it comes up, I’m reminded how much it changed me,” Burns said. “I truly believe everything happens for a reason. While I would never wish that experience on anyone, it changed how I view life.