“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
-1 Matthew 5:16
The top ranked volleyball recruit out of the state of Indiana for the class of 2022, Texas commit Emma Halter has long been praised for the energy, skill, and quickness that she brings to the court. After committing to join the Longhorns program in July of 2020, Halter has not wavered in that decision as she gears up to head to Austin in the summer. As she awaits the day she steps into the Gregory Gymnasium for the Longhorns, she hopes that she can use her gifts to inspire anyone watching, at the next level and beyond.
Since she was young, Emma Halter has always had the ambition of impacting others. That drive has come from family and faith, both of which she holds close to her heart. Growing up, Emma says her parents always made sure her and her two siblings were grounded in faith and knew who was in control.
Having attended Catholic schools throughout her life, Emma says that opened the door for faith to remain an integral part of her day to day living. “That education has instilled in me the morals and values that I believe in and will take with me into my future endeavors. As I grow older, I continue to realize the true value of faith and trust in the Lord.”
As Emma was putting faith first throughout her childhood, she was also becoming a star on the court. Admired by many for her contagious smile and relentless drive, she says she has learned to not find her value in the results of the game but instead in who God says she is.
“Everytime I step on the court I am so thankful for the opportunity God has given me to play the game I love. Throughout my life I have learned that with every accomplishment follows another challenge that God puts in front of me to remind me that everyday I need to work harder than I did the day before. I have become so thankful for every challenge and every failure because they give me the opportunity to grow as both a player and a person.”
Emma says volleyball has also given her an outlet to point others to Jesus and be an example for them.
“I feel that God has given me the gift of playing volleyball so that I can use it to influence others and inspire other athletes through hard work and dedication to the game. Volleyball has influenced my faith through the highs and the lows. Good practices, workouts, and games remind me to thank God for the opportunity I have to play volleyball, and with that, hard weeks or days also remind me to pray to God for strength instead of questioning what is going on during those times.”
“After attending Texas for the first time, I had a different feeling when stepping on campus than I did anywhere else. I knew God was telling me that this would be a good future home for me.”
Emma says that after finishing her senior year of high school, she hopes to immediately make an impact in Austin and on the people there.
“Upon my arrival there in June, I hope to contribute to the culture they have already built by bringing energy, giving nothing less than 110% everyday, and hopefully inspire young girls to chase their dreams.”
As Emma gears up for the end of her high school days, she hopes to use every one of them to be a light and a blessing in the lives of others. Although she hopes to always be the best she can on the court, she hopes her impact always extends beyond that, too.
“I hope to have an impact on my teammates by letting them know that I will have their backs, on the community by getting involved in service projects or attending mission trips, and on young girls by showing them that faith and perseverance can lead you to accomplish anything you put your mind to.”
