Giger eyes career in criminal justice

For Monica Giger, playing competitive sports has opened the doors to friendships and experiences that only enhanced her high school years. 'I got into sports mainly because of my height, ' said the 18-year-old, who played volleyball and basketball for St. Paul Christian School. Already into dancing and gymnastics, Giger was a natural fit, finding a niche for herself on the courts. Armed with the biggest smile and the friendliest personality, one would never realize that Giger is a ferocious competitor. An integral component of a potent Warriors offense, Giger's work ethic and defensive presence on the court have been key to the Warriors unparalleled championship run in high school girls basketball. Giger is no stranger to winning, earning a three-peat in island basketball and several All-Island mentions. As a member of the Warriors, she also picked up several championships in the Asian Christian Schools Conference for volleyball and basketball and a second-place finish at the Kanto Plains Basketball Championships in Japan. She also has represented Guam at the junior national level in basketball. Her coach, Paul Pineda, said Giger has been instrumental on and off the court for the Warriors. "The first couple of years Monica has been at SPCS, she knew her role and worked very hard to contribute when she was called upon," he said. In the first two years, Giger was the young one and relied upon the guidance and experience of her older teammates. That changed this past season, Pineda said. "Because the team was so young, she had to step up and lead the team both on and off the court this last year," he said. "On the court, she took the initiative to expand her game and skill set. She made an effort to be an extension of the coaches on the floor, setting our defense and communicating our offensive sets. "Off the court, she took the younger players under her wing. She always found the time to encourage her teammates and always stayed positive for them," he said. "She was the glue that kept the team together. To see her growth mentally, physically, spiritually and socially over the years has made me very proud to be a part of her life." While most of her wins were in basketball, Giger said volleyball is her favorite sport. 'I use volleyball as my outlet sport, where there's no expectations, simply just having fun,' she said. The winning and the sports accolades are all products of her team's hard work, Giger said, and the ride all four years of high school has been one that she enjoyed. However, she said, she treasured the opportunities that came about because of competition more so than the trophies. Traveling around Asia, including Singapore, the Philippines and Japan, and competing against different teams meant new experiences, new people and new ideas - all of which have had a greater impact on molding her as a person, she said. 'Making new memories and new friends - that's going to stick with me for a lifetime; (this) is what hit me the most,' she said. Looking back, Giger said sports allowed her to grow into her confidence and develop the leadership needed as she moves forward to a new phase in life. 'It also taught me a lot about setting my goals and learning how to manage my time with other extracurricular activities,' she said. With high school behind her, Giger said she is still hoping the class of 2020 will get their send-off into the 'real world." 'I'm honestly just hoping for a graduation, or some sort of celebration for the class of 2020,' she said, ' (It) doesn't have to be big - but some way we can celebrate with our families and friends.' The pandemic has also altered her college plans, Originally slated to attend Michigan State University in the fall to major in criminal justice, she said her family asked her to stay on island until there is a little more certainty. With the majority of the universities considering online studies for fall semester, she said, the decision to stay home for now makes sense. Always on the lookout for new experiences and learning, Giger said staying home means she can compete in the Miss Guam World or Miss Earth Guam pageants before heading out for her sophomore year in college. The future is bright for Giger as she takes steps toward her next adventure in life.
Courtesy of: postguam.com