Emmanuel University (Ga.)

Zyanya Rogel Valencia is an international student-athlete from Mexico City, Mexico.
“I come from a family full of athletes,” explains Zyanya Rogel, the sophomore member of the Women’s Tennis Team, “which is why sport has always been on my blood,” she adds.
Zyanya started playing tennis at the age of 14, and tennis has taken an essential role in her life ever since. From traveling to tournaments to meeting new people, tennis has allowed her to be the person she is today. 
Halfway through her sophomore year, Zyanya is pursuing a major in Graphic Design while completing a minor in Communication. “I am very grateful to call myself a student-athlete,” she explains, “combining my sport and education at this level is a blessing that not many people have access to.”
As a member of the tennis team at Emmanuel College, she enjoys the program because of its discipline that makes athletes better people on and off the court. One of the mottos that have come to define Zyanya as a player is “Don’t focus on results; focus on the vision you created and commit to the pathway to achieve it.”
Besides, she enjoys being surrounded by her teammates, who help her push through her limits. “I love being a teammate,” says Zyanya, “playing next to my teammates empowers me and shows me that I am not alone.”
The young tennis player highly encourages all future international student-athletes to be brave and pursue the college experience if that is something that they are passionate about. “It will open your mind and help you see things from a different perspective,” she explains.
Although her graduation is still far ahead, Zyanya plans to stay in the United States afterward. Her ultimate goal is to attend graduate school and obtain a master’s degree in graphic design.