As the leaves fall from the trees, you find yourself walking into the main gym at East High School for a varsity volleyball game. As the game goes on, you see one long-haired girl diving for every ball. That varsity senior is Janessa Lee. A volleyball player, musician, and an academic weapon.
“I am half Hmong and half Filipino. It is a very unique mix,” Lee said.
Lee has a big family that spreads throughout the United States, and even across countries. Her culture is a very important part of her. She goes to Hawaii to visit family, as her mom lived there as a kid.
“We are a part of a clan, the Lee clan. We specifically have a big family tree under the name, Sayaxang,” Lee said.
Volleyball is extremely popular amongst the Hmong community. As she watched her family play when she was little, she was excited for her turn to carry on that legacy. As she continued to play volleyball in high school, she’s a very memorable player and has hit many big milestones.
“I was four-year varsity; my position was starting libero. I have gained honorable titles through my performance such as, hitting 700 career digs throughout my high school career and have been recognized as first team all-conference player,” Lee said.
Lee is an avid follower of Christ. She doesn’t remember many experiences of church when she was younger, however, as she went through her middle and high school years, she started to be exposed to a relationship with Jesus.
“Jesus has been the sole of everything in my life, and he is what keeps me going,” Lee said.
Lee has been singing all her life and was exposed to music at a very young age, like Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys, etc. Those artists and genres have influenced her musical journey so much. She also learned how to play violin, guitar, ukulele, and piano.
“These artists have been a big inspiration and mainly formed my style of singing,” Lee said.
Lee was in treble choir her freshman year of high school and chamber choir for every other year. She also recently played Pearl Krabs in The SpongeBob Musical at East.
“This has influenced my passion for music, and made my love grow deeper for music,” Lee said.
When Lee was younger, she dreamed of a career in music. However, as she grew up, she found love in hospitality and realized that helping others attracted her more than music.
“It is a human nature of mine to just be so giving and want to return a good deed to society,” Lee said.
She has taken classes at Central to expand her experiences in nursing and hospitality. As she continued those classes and experienced the hospital, it made her realize that she wanted to pursue nursing.
“It also helped me realize that my place in life, that God has given me, is to be so nurturing to others. Just like what Jesus would do,” Lee said.
When asked who Lee looks up to, her immediate answer is her cousin. East High Alum, Angelynn Ly, who has inspired and helped her in so many ways.
“She is the embodiment of what it means to be a woman of God, a sister, a cousin, daughter, friend, family, and lover. She truly means the world to me,” Lee said.
Lee’s passion and love for things is inspiring for many, especially one of her best friends. Senior, ChristBer Moo, finds Lee to be a growing and hard working girl.
“I would say she has gotten me to step out of my comfort zone more these past years I’ve known her,” Moo said.
Lee is a great friend and makes good impressions everywhere she goes. Moo and Lee have known each other since middle school and have been close ever since.
“I am so grateful for her because she has made a lasting impact on the person I’m becoming,” Moo said.
Lee is continuously impresses others around her through her resilience, strength, kindness, and empathy. In the fall, she will be attending Grand View University to major in Nursing. She couldn’t be more excited to continue her education and work in healthcare.
