Ever since she started playing volleyball, one of the Philippines’ best setters, Jia Morado, has had a nagging feeling that something is lacking; this feeling lasted until she found “Solid Seven.” This was her heart's true calling and, as a result, she couldn’t be any happier or fulfilled.
As a student-athlete, it was undeniable that Morado always wanted to focus on the present, train harder, and be the best version of herself. However, at the peak of her volleyball career, and when she was just about to enter her last playing year at the Ateneo De Manila University, she suddenly felt empty and felt like she lost her “why.”
“I was questioning why I was on this path, why I was playing volleyball, and what was I doing it for?” she said in the 16th episode of The Hang Time Podcast.
“When I started playing volleyball, it was all about me, improving myself, and getting better to be the best version of myself. But as time passed, I realized that it’s more fulfilling to be doing this for other people,” she added.
That was when she partnered with Ed and Gabriel Ortega to put up a volleyball clinic named “Solid Seven,” wherein they share tips, knowledge, and wisdom about the sport via virtual speaking engagements and online volleyball tutorials for those who are passionate about the sport, especially the kids.
She put up Solid Seven with the vision of helping the next generation in getting more opportunities, pursue their passion, and to be able to raise Philippine volleyball through a grassroots means.
For Morado, the opportunities she got because of volleyball did not come out of nowhere and were not, simply, handed to her. Instead, because of her belief that you reap what you sow, these opportunities were fruits of her hard work and persistence.
“I’d like to believe that the opportunities I was blessed with came from the time, energy, and the chances I took and I also know that my parents invested a lot of time, effort, and love in us so we are where we are now,” she said.
Because of volleyball, Morado was able to get a college scholarship at her dream school. Also, she was able to represent, not just her school but, the whole country in addition to having the chance to train and travel with her teammates.
After all these achievements, she discovered that her heart truly belonged in influencing and helping the next generations who are passionate about the sport as well; she can do this by helping them achieve their dreams and have the same opportunities she was also given.
“It’s a small effort for now, but we hope that eventually, we will be able to help more players, especially the kids,” she said about Solid Seven.
With her passion to help the future generation and the next breed of athletes, Jia Morado is true to her famous nickname, JIA-mazing. Currently, aside from managing the Solid Seven, she has also been trying other exercises, participating in fundraising activities, and working through online courses related to Psychology to keep her mind sharp in her area of study. Morado has also, just recently, become engaged to her longtime boyfriend.
Listen to the entire interview of Jia Morado (Episode 16 of The Hang Time Podcast) with one of the links below. Thank you and enjoy!
This piece was written by Carla Molina, a common contributor for Globally Ballin check out the link below to see all the articles by Carla Molina that revisit past episodes of the network in bring the story of the guests to article form as well.