The Next Big Thing: Jade Rampton

For Puxi Senior Jade Rampton, the term 'off-season' isn't in her vocabulary. Juggling basketballs, volleyballs, and softballs at Shanghai American School—all while snagging an IB diploma like it's a fly ball—Jade's been on a winning streak. But why stop there? Next year, she's taking her talents to Western New Mexico University, where she's received a scholarship to join the Mustangs Volleyball team.

Can you tell us about where you’re heading next year?

I will be going to Western New Mexico University, where I have received a scholarship to play Division II Volleyball. There, I will be studying kinesiology with hopes of entering the field of physical therapy. I've enjoyed playing high school volleyball, but I'm excited to see what this new chapter brings with traveling for games and the challenge to play at a very competitive level. I'm looking forward to creating strong bonds with my teammates. Having a group of girls who will support you in school as well as on the court, training, and all that comes with college is exciting to me.

Have sports always been an important part of your life?

As a young child, I grew up watching my parents play basketball as professional athletes, so it's really been something that's been engraved in my life, and I’ve grown up playing sports for as long as I can remember. They instilled in me that sport is truly a key part of a balanced life and a healthy lifestyle. There's a lot of benefits to playing sport, and I especially enjoy the community that being on a team brings. And so, I think that going to college to play volleyball is something that I have always aspired to do.

Why do you want to get involved in physical therapy?

I felt that it combined my love for sport with an academic career. I enjoy the idea that in this career, I can help the community. And whether I continued to play sport after high school or not, I knew that I wanted to still be involved in a field where sport was important.

What will you miss about SAS and Shanghai?

In fact, just thinking about leaving makes me emotional. But I think Shanghai has held a special place in my heart. And SAS, in the last few years, has truly become imprinted on my life. I can't imagine not living here or being at SAS. I am scared of leaving such a tight knit community knowing that we're all going all over the world and that my friends aren't going to be there with me all the time like they have day in and day out of SAS. So, I’ll miss the sense of community and the wonderful things that Shanghai has to offer.

Congrats, Jade! Western New Mexico University is lucky to have you.