Nicole Abreu is a 15-year-old freshman at South Broward High School who was born in Caracas, Venezuela. When she was five years old, Abreu and her family had to close their family business and leave Venezuela due to the country’s political troubles. They moved to Peru, where they spent about a year before moving to the United States when she was seven years old. 

“I grew up in two completely different cultures and countries,” said Abreu.

Her family settled in Hollywood, Florida, where Abreu started elementary school. Her class was mostly filled with kids who spoke only English, which made learning a new language challenging. On top of that, she also had to adjust to new traditions, customs, and ways of doing things.

“I think moving around at such a young age had advantages but also its disadvantages,” she said. “I got to meet many different people, but I also had to adapt to different food, different teaching styles, and different rules.”

Abreu doesn’t like to just sit around at home, so she keeps herself busy by trying many new and different hobbies. From learning how to make jewelry and dance in Peru to trying out for the basketball team in middle school, she has always been open to trying new things. 

“I had tried all these different sports like ballet and tennis, which helped me find the passion I have for volleyball,” said Abreu.

Growing up, she has always liked to excel in everything she does. Despite her inner drive, in eighth grade, Abreu admitted that she started slacking a bit in school.

“I started taking high school classes in middle school, but I didn’t pay attention to the work because I thought it was going to be easy,” she said. “But I saw my friends doing well, and I wasn’t.”

She decided it was best to manage her time better and find a balance between sports and school.

“The hardest thing about being a student is trying to finish by the deadlines and trying to balance your sports with school and your social life,” said Abreu.