NJP Action Photo Winner Shares Her Story
10/27/25
When Jayda Quigley steps onto the volleyball court at Pinelands High School, she brings more than just athletic talent. She carries with her a story of resilience, humility, and purpose that extends far beyond the boundaries of the game. As one of New Jersey’s top volleyball players, Jayda has captured attention not just for her impressive kills and court presence, but for the character she displays both in victory and defeat.
Finding Refuge in the Game
For Jayda, volleyball has never been just a sport. It has been a sanctuary during life’s most challenging moments. “Volleyball was an outlet for me when things got rough and it helped me to forget everything going on in my life at that moment,” she shares, reflecting on her high school journey. The court became a place where she could channel her emotions into something productive, transforming personal struggles into athletic determination.
This relationship with volleyball taught her lessons that transcended sports. The discipline, confidence, and mental fortitude she developed through the game became tools for navigating life itself. “If you can be strong mentally on a court and handle the pressure and or losses you can use that in everyday life,” Jayda explains. “If you are mentally strong you can make it through the hardest things in life and it surely has helped me to do that.”
A Foundation of Humility
Jayda’s approach to success stands out in an era often dominated by self-promotion. Her mother instilled in her the values of humility and kindness from an early age, often playing Tim McGraw’s “Humble and Kind” for her daughter. That song, Jayda says, continues to resonate with her today.
“I was raised to always think of others’ feelings, and how would this make me feel?,” she reflects. This empathetic approach shapes how she interacts with teammates and competitors alike. Rather than viewing other talented players as threats, Jayda celebrates their achievements. “If there is someone better than me that is awesome and I will cheer them on and be happy for them. If I want to be just as good then I have to work harder.”
Her philosophy is beautifully simple yet profound: “I want to help straighten their crown, not try to steal it from them.”
This humble approach extends to how she handles her own accomplishments. While her Instagram showcases her volleyball achievements for potential college coaches, Jayda is quick to redirect credit to her team. “To be honest volleyball is a team sport and I would not have the stats and or recognition if it was not for my team as it is only possible because of all of them.”
A Life-Changing Journey
Four years ago, Jayda’s career aspirations took an unexpected turn. Since kindergarten, she had dreamed of becoming a teacher, particularly wanting to help special needs students. But when her mother began what Jayda calls her “BRCA journey,” everything changed.
The family carries a genetic mutation called BRCA 1, which significantly increases the risk of breast and ovarian cancers. Jayda’s mother, facing an 88% lifetime risk of developing breast cancer, made the courageous decision to undergo a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy. The term “previvor” entered their vocabulary, describing someone with an inherited predisposition to cancer who hasn’t yet been diagnosed with the disease.
Watching her mother navigate this journey with strength and grace profoundly impacted Jayda. She accompanied her mother to appointments, observed procedures, and helped with her care. The surgeon’s patience and kindness during this difficult time sparked a revelation. “I just remember seeing how patient and kind he was with her and then that is when it hit me that this is it and the field I belong in.”
This experience redirected Jayda’s path toward nursing. Now accepted into the nursing program at St. Joseph’s College of Maine, she aspires to become a Nurse Practitioner who assists in surgery. She’s particularly drawn to plastic surgery and reconstruction, hoping to help breast cancer survivors and previvors like her mother. “I just want to be able to help others in any possible way I can,” she says.
Raising Awareness and Giving Back
October holds special significance for Jayda as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. She uses her platform to educate others about genetic testing and early detection, knowing that she herself will face testing decisions in the future. “I know one day I will be faced with being tested as I am too young now to face such things and know I may have to make the same choices,” she acknowledges with remarkable maturity.
She encourages others to support organizations like BRCAstrong.org, which helps previvors and survivors, as well as the Susan G. Komen Foundation and National Breast Cancer Foundation. Her advocacy comes from a deeply personal place, understanding that awareness and early detection can save lives.
Leading by Example
Despite her young age, Jayda has embraced her role as a mentor to younger players. She fondly remembers Molly, a senior who served as her “big sister” when she was a freshman. That positive experience inspired Jayda to pay it forward. “She was such a wonderful example and so supportive of me. I knew I wanted to be an example the way she was with me.”
The impact of her leadership hasn’t gone unnoticed. Parents of underclassmen regularly thank Jayda and her mother for the positive influence she has on their daughters. “That they look up to me and aspire to be like me one day,” she shares. “Hearing that fuels me more to keep being the happy positive girl I am on and off the court with everyone.”
Her message to young athletes is both compassionate and empowering: “You are not your sport, your stats, if you’re varsity, not varsity or if you are not as good as the same girl in your position.” She openly shares her own struggles with self-doubt, hoping to normalize these feelings while encouraging perseverance.
Faith as an Anchor
Central to Jayda’s resilience is her faith. The verse Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength,” serves as her guiding principle. This spiritual foundation has sustained her through difficult times and shapes her philosophy that “anything is possible.”
“Just because something did not turn out how I wanted it to, something better ended up in its place,” she reflects. “Just having my hope, my faith and determination makes anything possible.”
Beyond the Athlete
Outside of volleyball, Jayda’s life is rich with relationships and activities. She treasures time with her family, describing her mother as “literally my best friend” and her father as “my literal twin.” Their bond extends to shared adventures like attending old school hip-hop concerts together. Her father’s willingness to play beach volleyball with her shows the family’s commitment to supporting her passion while maintaining close connections.
She stays active through gym workouts, outdoor adventures with friends, and time with her boyfriend. “I don’t like to sit around and do nothing so I am always on the go,” she laughs, painting a picture of a young woman who approaches life with enthusiasm and energy.
Staying True Despite Adversity
Perhaps most remarkably, Jayda has maintained her positive spirit despite facing significant social challenges during high school. She’s endured being made fun of, put down, and having her character tested repeatedly. Yet she chose to respond with kindness rather than retaliation.
“No matter how much others tried to tear me down I never stopped caring for those who tried to and or ever once thought to do anything back,” she reveals. Her mother’s teaching to “do unto others as you want done to yourself” remained her north star even when it would have been easier to respond differently.
This commitment to authenticity came at a cost. “I might not be popular and or cool but I love me for me,” she admits. The journey to self-acceptance wasn’t easy. “Lonely at first but then you find those who are meant for you.”
A Message of Hope
As Jayda prepares to graduate and begin her college journey, her message to fellow high schoolers resonates with hard-won wisdom. “Don’t let others define who you are and or bring you down,” she advises. She acknowledges the unique pressures facing young women, understanding that the worry about others’ opinions can be overwhelming.
Her perspective on high school’s temporary nature offers comfort to those struggling: “High school is such a small blip in your life so don’t let it define you and or your sport define who you are as a person either.”
What she’s most proud of from her high school career isn’t a championship or individual accolade. It’s that despite everything thrown at her, she never let negativity change her fundamental character. “Despite all the bad I always made light of it and used it to turn it into good. It did not change me for the worse but for the better.”
Looking Forward
As Jayda Quigley prepares to trade her Pinelands jersey for nursing scrubs at St. Joseph’s, she leaves behind a legacy that extends far beyond her volleyball statistics. She’s shown younger players that strength comes in many forms, that kindness doesn’t equal weakness, and that staying true to yourself, while difficult, ultimately leads to the most meaningful victories.
Her journey from the volleyball court to the medical field, shaped by her mother’s courage and her own faith, demonstrates that sometimes life’s detours lead to our true calling. In choosing to pursue nursing, particularly in helping cancer survivors and previvors, Jayda is transforming personal experience into purpose.
For those who have watched her play, Jayda Quigley will be remembered not just for her perfectly timed kills or her contributions to Pinelands’ success. She’ll be remembered as the player who helped straighten others’ crowns, who faced adversity with grace, and who proved that true strength lies not in never falling, but in how you rise, how you treat others along the way, and how you use your struggles to light the path for those who follow.
As she often reminds others, “Never ever give up on anything or allow anyone to tell you it is not possible.” Jayda Quigley hasn’t just played volleyball; she’s lived these words, creating a story that will inspire long after her final game at Pinelands ends.
