My name is Marissa Rodde and I am from Abbotsford, British Columbia. I am attending the University of Regina, working towards a bachelor’s in education, and therefore throughout the year I bounce between living in B.C. and Regina. Back home I have an amazing family consisting of my mom, dad, and brother. I have them to thank for the person I am today. When I am not home, and instead in Regina, I have been gifted many friends who I consider my second family. Moving away from home has allowed me to grow in many ways. I have learned to be self-sufficient and depend on myself. I have also learned to lean on those around me. The friends I have chosen to surround myself with have made me stronger every day and I am incredibly thankful for them. 

Growing up I always loved being active and taking part in various sports. I was quick to take up basketball and ended up playing and competing in the sport for over ten years. This sport has given back to me in so many ways, but most importantly it led me to my dream of becoming a teacher. I began coaching basketball when I was 13 years old and have been coaching ever since. I fell in love with helping others work towards their goals and it gave me so much happiness to watch them succeed. I quickly realized that this was something I wanted to do with my life and from that experience I decided I wanted to teach. Since then I have never doubted my career path and have been thrilled about my journey. 

I no longer play basketball, but I still enjoy being active and now I have found a love for hiking, backpacking, and the outdoors. I spend my summers taking on new adventures and going hiking through the mountains and connecting with nature. This allows me to relax and live in the present. I find that sometimes I can get wrapped up in everything that occurs in life and sometimes I like to take a step back and breathe. I believe it is important to take time to do the things we love. For me, these things include baking, crocheting, hiking, and spending quality time with friends and loved ones.