In this article, we share more about student-athlete Hester Schalken, our volleyball player who is looking for a university in the fall of 2025.

Sports: Women’s Volleybal
Entry semester: Fall 2025

Hester Schalken is 16 years old and lives in Tilburg, the Netherlands. When she was about 5 years old, she started dancing, but shortly after, she took up volleyball. This was inspired by her mother and sister, who were also involved in volleyball. Recently, Hester switched clubs to play at a higher level. She currently trains four times a week and has a match every weekend—quite a busy schedule!

Hester is very optimistic and has a positive attitude. When things don’t go as planned, she always tries to make the best of the situation. This mindset is also reflected on the court. If her team loses a point, she quickly moves on, staying positive and focusing on the next point. Hester doesn’t crumble under pressure; in fact, she performs even better during crucial moments. The pressure helps her become even more focused than usual.

In the United States, Hester wants to earn her college degree while continuing to play a lot of volleyball. She specifically wants to do this in America because the sport is so big there. During this experience, she hopes to make many new friends and explore the country, embarking on the biggest adventure of her life.

Hester also hopes to become a professional volleyball player in the future.

”I thrive under pressure; it makes me even more competitive than I already am”

Hester Schalken

Would you like to see more of Hester? Check out the video below where she introduces herself.