Student-Athlete Spotlight: Marjorie Oliveira

Sport: Women's Basketball
Position: Guard
Year: Junior
Hometown: Waterbury, Conn.
High School: John F. Kennedy
Height:  5-4
Major: Business Administration

As a member of the Mitchell College women's basketball team, junior guard Marjorie Oliveira plays a crucial role for the Mariners. An excellent defender with boundless energy, she has embraced her role as a "spark plug" off the bench. It is her job to come into a game and change the momentum through hard work, hustle and defense.

Change, it seems, is something she is used to. Born in Brazil, Oliveira spent the first eight years of her life living in the city of Sao Paolo, the most populated city in South America. Her father, with dreams of giving his wife and young daughter a better life, left the family and came to the United States to find work. A year later, Oliveira and her mother joined him in Connecticut, where they've lived ever since.

Even more changes soon followed. An only child up to that point, Oliveira soon became a big sister-three times over-as the family welcomed triplet girls into the world. She also entered the American school system for the first time, a transition made even more difficult because she didn't speak a word of English. It was through sports, however, that she assimilated into American culture.

"I started playing basketball in third grade," she recalled. "I spoke very little English at the time, and one of the best ways to relate to people and make friends was through sports. I picked up basketball in gym class and I've been playing ever since."

After seven months of hard work in the classroom (along with watching episodes of Scooby-Doo at home), Oliveira also picked up a second language in addition to her native Portuguese. And as a new big sister, she found herself helping out a lot around the house, caring for her new siblings to ease the stress on her parents.

Oliveira later attended John F. Kennedy High School, where she was a four-year athlete in both basketball and track. She then became the first member of her family to attend college in the United States when she enrolled at Mitchell, and over the past three years she has been a model student-athlete. She has seen action in every game this season and is averaging nearly three points in 12 minutes per game.


Did You Know?

Marj is fluent in both English and Portuguese and can also speak Spanish ... while she hasn't been back to Brazil since she left, she still has a lot of family there and wants to go back ... her favorite food is shrimp alfredo ... her favorite professional team is the Cleveland Cavaliers ... her favorite professional athlete is LeBron James.

Coach Macca on Oliveira:

Marj has a very strong work ethic, and she truly is a role model student-athlete.  When she enters a game, she brings an electric energy to our team, and she embraces her role of "team spark plug."  She is a tireless on-ball defender, and her exceptional speed gives our team a real fast-break advantage.


Q & A

Why did you choose Mitchell College?

I chose Mitchell because it's a small school, it's not that far away from home and because I wanted to play basketball.

What are your career aspirations?

I'd like to manage a small business, and then later own a business. 

Why do you play basketball?

I play basketball because I love the game and I'm very competitive. I love the rush that you get out on the floor, and I love being part of a team.

What is your role on the team?

My role on the team is to bring some energy, on and off the court, as coach calls me "the spark plug."
 
What has being on the women's basketball team meant to you?

It means a lot to me. I like being involved and being part of a team. And all of these girls make it all worthwhile. We all get along great.
 
What do you like to do in your spare time?

In my spare time I love to nap, eat, hang out with friends, watch movies, shop, make videos, play Rock Band, spend time with my family, go bowling, go snowboarding, and cook.
 
How do you and your team display good sportsmanship?

We display sportsmanship by showing respect for the game and opponent, congratulating the opponent at the end of the game, maintaining our composure when we get frustrated, respecting coaches and other players, and encouraging and motivating players.