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Senior Jurja Vlasic embarks on her final collegiate competition this weekend, suiting up on the sand as the San Francisco beach volleyball team plays in the inaugural West Coast Conference Championship. For Vlasic, a native of Zagreb, Croatia, the journey to USF was a chance to live her "American Dream." After a shoulder injury, she had a regroup and rebuild to get back on the court and out on the sand, showing that she has what it takes "To Be A Don."
 
This vignette is featured in the seventh episode of this season of "Behind the Mask," USF's cable television show which airs monthly on Comcast SportsNet California. The  half-hour episode, which debuted yesterday afternoon, will reair Tuesday, April 26, at 7:30 p.m. Check local listings for additional information.
 
In Jurja's own words:

Life is about opportunities, creating them and embracing them. That was my American Dream; it's what defined me, until it was taken away. Tough situations are not meant to break you, they're meant to make you.
 
Instead of asking why me, I asked why not me. Although my body was limited, it was my spirit that was unstoppable. I went back to where the journey began. I was never alone.
 
You get what you give, that's how I live my life, and I'm trying to be the best. Point blank. Period. No excuses. The only thing I really have control over is my effort and my attitude, and once I put that in perspective that's when I really get things accomplished. That's when I take it to the next level.
 
I can overcome any challenge with the right mindset, with the right determination. Whatever I'm going through in my life, I can overcome it. I just have to work harder. At the end of the day, when I know I gave my best is when I'm working hard in the sand and realize in that moment I gave everything mentally, physically, and spiritually – that no one worked harder than me on that day.
 
I'm grateful for the past, I embrace the present, and await the future.  There's no holding back, no excuses. Go forth, and seize the opportunity.