Volleyball is played all around the world and is known for the excitingly long rallies and strategic gameplay. Any normal game of volleyball is played by two teams, each consisting of six players. The court is split into two, with a high net separating the teams. The players must work together to score a point by making the ball touch the floor on the opposing team’s side, all with only 3 passes and the use of their forearms, fingertips, and palms.
Are you falling in love yet? I sure didn’t when I was first introduced to it 3 years ago. However, I’ve now found myself with a deep passion.
When I was in 5th grade, I didn’t have many friends. I would always watch other kids socialize so easily and play sports from the sidelines. An unexpected motivation to step out of my comfort zone was introduced one day during recess. I noticed a group of girls playing volleyball and decided to join them. The obvious was clear: I didn’t have any experience or skill. It was my first time playing, so I didn’t expect more from myself. Nonetheless, I stayed on that court and tried. During the transition from recess to lunch, I found myself behind the girls I was playing with. Being unnoticed, one of the girls began to say something. “Omg, all of you girls play well! Except for that Kaylee girl. She is SO bad, she sucks!” Suddenly, my eyes met hers. At that moment, I looked at her with a blank expression. I stayed quiet as she turned away and walked off. Those words have never left my mind. Now, they are words of motivation. I wanted to prove her wrong. I wanted to prove myself worthy. I wanted to prove that statement wrong.
Every day, I would continue to play with them during recess. I didn’t care about what they had said about me. Over time, I improved at playing competitively with them. Fast forward to 7th grade, I decided to sign up for my school’s volleyball team. I remember confidently signing my name on that poster. I wasn’t scared; I wanted to try. My very first game was nerve-racking. I remember arriving late due to traffic; as soon as I got settled, I was put into the game right away. The rest was a blur. One thing was true: we had lost. In my very first volleyball game, I lost. I was so devastated and blamed myself for losing our first volleyball game. My mom gave me some words of encouragement. She said, “This was only your first game; you shouldn’t get bummed out about this and just focus on improving. I agreed with her words; what I had to focus on was improving.
Last summer was certainly a wonderful time in my life. I started a Japanese anime show called “Haikyuu!” This anime was about a high school student determined to become a top volleyball player despite his short stature. The series highlighted themes of teamwork, perseverance, and personal growth in the competitive world of volleyball. Why am I mentioning this? Watching this anime not only entertained me and helped me learn more about volleyball, but it also gave me motivation and a perspective. I distinctly remember that after every episode, I would have the most exciting motivation to go outside and try out the skills shown in the series. As a benefit, it honestly helped me so much to stay active and go outside to improve and learn. This show showed me a perspective: to be resilient, work hard, and pursue your passion. However, you should also embrace the journey of self-development and self-improvement with others; the whole summer was a goal to focus on achieving that perspective and making it a reality. I was so determined, and my mind was set to try out for the 8th-grade volleyball team. I had come to the conclusion to achieve being a skilled player and show the potential I had within me.
I found myself on the volleyball team once again. I put my all into practices and created relationships with my teammates! We managed to go undefeated 5-0. Soon enough we went against two teams that were far more skilled than us. After a long journey of trying our hardest, we were not eligible to go to the playoffs. I felt so disappointed in myself. “Could I have done better? Was my hard work not enough? No, I did my best, I learned from my mistakes, and there WILL be more opportunities in the future.”
I settled with that mindset. I am passionate about volleyball because I set a long-term goal for myself to become professional. Playing volleyball has been beneficial for me to stay active and to distract my mind from life at times. Ever since I tried volleyball, my life has been more exciting. I’ve also been able to set expectations and goals for myself. Being involved with playing this sport has built many relationships and fun memories with friends and family. Volleyball is beneficial; it taught me to be resilient. I match the way I’m resilient toward volleyball to the way I’m resilient toward my academics or goals in life. Volleyball is important to me and something I would like to pursue during high school. I am in love with the mechanics of the sport, and I desire to improve my skills and compete at higher levels in the future. I not only encourage you to try out volleyball specifically but also a sport. Who knows? You might find yourself in my shoes someday.
Kaylee Guillermo – Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School – DMSF Class of 2029
Photo Credit: Needpix.com