Leaving the Hawaiian Islands for the Bay Area is a big leap, but in just a short time on campus, freshman middle blocker Kaitea Galletes has embraced the change with courage, resilience, and gratitude. From her first days on campus, she felt she had found more than just a volleyball program. She had found a new community to call home.

For Galletes, one of the toughest parts of her move was simply adjusting to time. California runs three hours ahead of Hawaii, and that shift tested her ability to stay energized and focused. In addition to her time adjustment, the lifestyle of being a student-athlete at the collegiate level proved to have its new challenges for her but also allowed her to thrive. "One significant challenge I faced was learning to balance my academic responsibilities with the demands of being a student-athlete. At first, managing practices, games, travel, and schoolwork felt overwhelming. I overcame this by improving my time management skills, using a planner, setting priorities, and staying disciplined with my schedule. It taught me how to stay focused under pressure and made me more organized and accountable in both areas."

Before arriving at East Bay, Galletes experienced the thrill of winning multiple BIIF Championships in volleyball and basketball and it was like cloud nine for her. "The feeling of being on the court in front of hundreds of supporters and spectators with your team playing the sports you love is unmatched. Listening to every cheer, chant or even the occasional 'boo' gives you goosebumps, and the most exciting adrenaline rush. With every pass, set, hit over the net or even pass and shot into the hoop makes you more excited. Then when the time comes to an end and the buzzers have gone off with the win that's how you know all your hard work has paid off not only in that game but the games before to get you to that moment, and all the practices." 

While volleyball is an important part of her journey, Galletes is also driven by big-picture goals. A Business Administration major with a concentration in hospitality and tourism, she envisions a career in leadership within that industry, perhaps in marketing, management, or even entrepreneurship. "I'm drawn to the idea of helping organizations grow, solve problems, and create value," she said. "My field of study in Hospitality and tourism gives me a strong foundation in areas like communication, finance, and strategic thinking skills that are essential no matter which path I choose. It's also helping me better understand how to work with diverse teams, make data-driven decisions, and lead effectively, all of which align with my long-term career goals."

Off the court, Galletes carries a deep passion for her home and her people. She especially feels strongly about the housing crisis in Hawaii and the impact it has on Native Hawaiians. "I am passionate about this because most of these homeless people are native Hawaiians, not being able to afford to live in their own home, on the their own land. The reason for this is they are being priced out of paradise due to the amount of people moving to Hawaii, and the prices of living skyrocketing." That passion fuels her drive to not only succeed in her career but to also give back to her community in meaningful ways.