Bobcat Stories | Johnaliz Cotte

Meet Johnaliz Cotte ’18

  • Graduation Year: 2018
  • Hometown: Bayamón, Puerto Rico
  • Academic Program: Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing
  • Lees-McRae Activities: Women’s Volleyball

Her Bobcat Story

Johnaliz’s dream of studying in the United States was coming true, and her volleyball talent was going to get her there.

Johnaliz was recruited to play volleyball for Lees-McRae, so she decided to transfer from her previous school: University of Puerto Rico, Río Peidras. She knew that moving to the U.S. had its challenges, but this would be the opportunity of a lifetime she could not pass up.

Arriving in the U.S. a week before classes, she began her training for the upcoming volleyball season. Every day, Johnaliz had to face her language barrier. But soon, with the help of the Lees-McRae community and her family at home, her confidence grew, and her English followed.

Her advice?
"Push yourself, never be scared and never give up.”