Finding Greatness: Yanelis Rodriguez

Author: Sheron Smith
Posted: Monday, March 17, 2025 12:00 AM
Categories: Students | Pressroom | School of Arts and Letters | Finding Greatness

Macon, GA

Twice named SSAC Volleyball Player of the Week, Yanelis Rodriguez had a team-leading 229 kills in the 2024 season. A Dean’s List English major, she hopes to become a Spanish language translator in the corporate world.

Full Name: Yanelis “Nelly” Rodriguez.

Age: 22.

Hometown: Naguabo, Puerto Rico.

Residence: Macon.

High School: Petra Mercado Bougart High School, Humacao, Puerto Rico.

Family: Dad, Ahmed Rodriguez; mom, Yanira Ortiz; sister, Yarimed Rodriguez.

Employment: Resident Assistant in Lakeview Point, MGA residence hall.

Degree Objective: Bachelor of Arts in English, certified in Spanish.

Class Rank: Senior.

Primary Campus: Macon.

Activities: “I am an outside hitter/ defensive specialist for the MGA volleyball team. As an RA, I am very involved in all campus events and activities that we host for students to make their transition into college easier.”

Career Goals: “I would like to be a Delta Air Line translator and help Spanish speakers when encountering issues.”  

She chose Middle Georgia State University because … “I wanted a home away from home and I found it here. I immediately fell in love once I saw the volleyball facility and once I found out MGA had the major I wanted, it was the easiest decision I ever made. Even though my parents never knew I flew to the United States without actually being accepted in the school, I’m glad I took the chance and got accepted. Being from Puerto Rico, I couldn’t do a campus visit so I just looked at virtual tour of the University and I knew I wanted to come here and play volleyball, represent my family, and graduate from a University in the United States.”

The greatest thing she discovered about Middle Georgia State was … “The opportunity to surround myself with people that want the best for me. This past volleyball season was a dream! I broke the school record, and I could not be prouder of myself. Then my knee completely gave up and I had to get surgery. The people there with me in this entire process really made the greatest impact on me. My volleyball teammates, my family, and my work staff in the residence hall were with me every step of the way and I couldn’t be more grateful to be surrounded my them. Being away from home was mentally challenging, especially being away from my parents, but Middle Georgia State University never made me feel alone.”

Her greatest academic experience as a Middle Georgia State student has been … “Being on the Dean’s List. I would never have thought I would maintain a 3.5 GPA in 2023, especially after coming here to play volleyball and being ineligible my first year. But God knew what he was doing, and I stayed here just practicing with the team - now I am captain of the team. My English knowledge was good when I first came here in 2022, but my pronunciation was not very good since my Puerto Rican accent was very noticeable. I would get embarrassed because I used to stare at people’s lips when talking to me because that made it easier for me to understand them.”

To her, greatness means … “Doing your best in every situation you’re put in. It may not be the best result, but if you give 100 percent, greatness will follow you everywhere you go. Learn from mistakes and move on. Don’t get stuck on a mistake, focus on the next step and keep moving forward.”

In five years … “After I graduate, I see myself working as a translator. I will be living with my husband and preparing for our lives together. I will fly back home to Puerto Rico to visit my family every year (Christmas is the best time). I don’t see myself playing volleyball in the United States in the next five years because of my knee injury, but I will definitely be playing volleyball in Puerto Rico in a league.”