Galeries Tower Highrisers’ Julia Coronel steps beyond her comfort zone with deep gratitude, taking on a new challenge as a UAAP analyst and offering a fresh lens to the game.
What if the thing you're most afraid of becomes the very thing that sets you free?
That was Julia Coronel—once a kid who could barely speak in front of a classroom. Today, she’s a UAAP analyst on national TV, bringing fresh insight to the game she once led as captain of the DLSU Lady Spikers and now plays for the Galeries Tower Highrisers.
Her journey from avoiding the classroom stage to confidently speaking in front of thousands is a reminder that fear doesn’t always mean stop. Sometimes, it’s just the beginning.
“Who would have thought that [the] little girl who used to have such bad stage fright, who hated talking in front of huge crowds, would end up on TV as a UAAP analyst????,” she shared on Instagram.
Her fear of public speaking wasn’t just a fleeting worry—it was something that followed her for years.
Her first real test came early—way back in second grade. An individual oral presentation, something simple on paper, became a personal mountain to climb.
"For the longest time (and I mean weeks!!), I would always beg my teacher at the time to postpone my presentation because of how scared I was,” she wrote.
But the day eventually came. No more postponing, no more hiding.
"Until one day, I just really had to muster the courage to get up and do it. Walking in front of the classroom felt like a huge nightmare, but when I started speaking, the words just left my mouth flawlessly."
She didn’t get the highest grade—but she got something more valuable: proof that she could do hard things.
That moment—scary as it was—planted a seed. One that would take years to bloom.
Now, Julia is speaking with confidence, not just as an athlete but as a voice of the game. And it’s in those unfamiliar places, she says, where growth truly begins.
“It’s really in these moments of discomfort that we truly discover ourselves, uncover our passions, and realize what we’re capable of achieving.”
To anyone out there sitting in fear, doubting whether you’re ready, Julia leaves a message:
“Take that first step. Even if it scares you. Especially if it scares you. Because your next breakthrough could be waiting right there.”
So if you’re standing at the edge, heart pounding, wondering if you’re enough—this is your sign.
Do it scared. Sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do is show up—even when your voice shakes.
Read the whole post here: