Media and Communication Studies student Jordan Boulware is a junior beach volleyball player who recently interviewed with the College of Communication & Information (CCI), giving insight into how she juggles her commitments both on the court and in the classroom.

As a Tallahassee native, Boulware grew up surrounded by athletics with her mother, Kensy Zulueta, playing volleyball at Florida State (1996-99), and her father, Peter Boulware, playing football for FSU (1993-96), gaining the title of National Defensive Player of the Year (1996). Boulware first picked up volleyball at seven years old and hasn’t stopped since.

“My parents have been absolutely amazing. They always pushed me, and since they were athletes themselves, they understood what it takes to succeed and have truly helped guide me,” Boulware said.

Boulware describes how CCI has served as a major aid in getting the accommodations needed to travel for her sport. Boulware has faced moments where she was on the road when assignments were due. With CCI professors being understanding and communicative, she excels in both her role as a student and as a player.

“I took a speech class where I needed to wear professional clothes, and I had to do [the assignment] over a trip. So, I packed my professional clothes and got one of my teammates to video me doing it. It was fun and made us laugh but we got it done,” Boulware said.

Boulware wanted to be a part of a college that would be versatile in nature and allow her the flexibility to go into multiple fields. Taking communication classes has allowed her to improve not only on her public speaking but also her intrapersonal skills.

“Networking is super important, especially nowadays. If you know someone they can help you get a job one day so having these communication skills are good in order to do that,” Boulware said.

Through her time as a CCI student athlete, Boulware has found an interest in social media management, using the relationship that she has established with her own social media managers as an inspiration.

Not only has athletics impacted her outlook for her professional development, but it has also molded how she approaches her personal growth.

“When it comes to school, even when it’s tough, sports have given me the mindset that I can handle academic challenges and keep moving forward no matter what, ” Boulware said.

Jordan Boulware was able to truly grow up in the Florida State culture, shaping both her own path in athletics and as a student. Taking this childhood love of sport and living it out as she has grown; Boulware continues to work on building her own legacy.

Another possible quote about her parents “Their leadership (not just on the playing field but off as well) helped me learn from their experiences, while also encouraging me to have my own impact in the sport and make a name for myself.”