Kalissa Barrera: 'Teachers give you more 1:1 time'

 

 

 

Kalissa Barrera

Senior

Marina High School

Senior Kalissa Barrera is breaking the athletic ceiling at Marina High School playing multiple sports. She is the kicker on the varsity football team, and finished her final season playing varsity girls volleyball. Girls soccer season is underway for Kalissa, and she intends to round out her high school education playing girls softball. 

Athletics is nothing new to Kalissa. She was introduced to basketball and softball at a young age, and found herself raised on the soccer field as her parents ran the youth soccer league. She is the seventh of nine children in her family, and attended Olson Elementary until second grade before moving to Crumpton Elementary. She also attended and played softball at Los Arboles Middle School.

“I am the only girl on the varsity football team,” says Kalissa. “I played on the soccer team and they asked me to be the kicker because they didn’t have one. It is unique and I never thought I would have done it when I was little. At first I was nervous about it, but after I got through the first game and first kick, it was easy for me. All my nerves were gone and I could do it again.”

 

When asked about what she enjoys most at Marina High, Kalissa says that most of the class sizes are really small, everyone knows each other, there is more hands-on work since classes are so small, and teachers give you more 1:1 time.

Post high school, Kalissa plans on attending a four-year university studying sports medicine. She hopes to pursue a degree in kinesiology at a school in Washington state, such as Gonzaga University.

Kalissa appreciates the friendships she has made throughout the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District. “Most of my friends growing up are still my friends now,” she says. “I have friends outside of (Marina High) school through sports. Even though students go to other campuses, a lot of outside of school sports connect everyone.” 

As if she doesn’t have enough on her plate, Kalissa is part of the Associated Student Body. She is instrumental in doing artwork, such as posters, and setting up school events like rallies. “People don’t see the work that goes into it (events) and it’s a lot. I like that my mom helps out in the community and helps out as well. It makes the school have more spirit. This year our ASB has brought out the spirit at Marina High.”

Outside of school and sports, Kalissa loves spending time with her family.