One hot sunny day in June, I was thinking of playing another sport. Different sports were racing through my mind. Then DING volleyball appeared and I remembered how much I enjoyed it during gym. I quickly let out, “Mom, I think I want to play volleyball.”

“Oh that’s great honey, but you have to start practicing and I’ll sign you up for a camp to see if you like it.”

“Okay, thanks mom!” I cheered.

Once camp was done, I realized how much I loved it and I want it to be a part of my life. A scary thought approached my mind.
What if I don’t make the team?

After I imagined that I dashed outside to practice in my backyard. I kept practicing and practicing all summer long, every day until the sun went down each and every day.

It was a breezy Tuesday in the month of September. A very important day, the day when people would bring it, they would show their skill and no one would back down. My friend and I were trying out! I was a nervous wreck and she was just playing it cool. We walked into the gym and as we saw at least twenty five girls, my jaw dropped. I said to myself I don’t care, I’m in it to win it, there is no backing down now. When tryouts started, the only thing that was on my mind was this tryout, I wasn’t worried about my schoolwork or anything else. I was completely focused and ready to show what I got. During the tryouts I was feeling good because I noticed that most of the girls haven’t played before, but there were a handful of girls who were amazing. I could just smell the tension and felt the agitation. The coach said she never had this many girls who tried out with so much talent. That’s when I started to get anxiety again. I had that feeling I wasn’t going to make the team. “The team will be posted Thursday morning outside of my room,” the coach announced.

“Oh my, I won’t be able to sleep Wednesday night,” I whispered to my friend.

“Ha-ha of course you won’t Antonette!”

It was Wednesday night and I was tossing and turning in my bed. I couldn’t control my nerves; I was so fidgety. I was just picturing in my mind looking at the list without my name on it. Then I started being optimistic, if I make the team it would be so much fun! I just love being on teams and learning new things. I then drifted into a deep sleep with many thoughts and dreams.

“Antonette get up!” my mom demanded.

“I’m up, I’m up!” I screamed.

“Today’s the day you find out if you made the team!”

“I know don’t remind me,” I blurted.

I got to school and was waiting impatiently to get dismissed. When they let us go, I was walking with my friend who tried out too.” Do you think we will make the team?”

“I have a good feeling we will,” she answered.

My stomach was in knots, my heart was beating like a race horse and I couldn’t walk straight. Step, step, and step we just kept walking and then before I know it we’re at her room looking at the list. At first I didn’t see my name, I kept looking and I saw my name and my friend’s name. “We did it!”

Ah I know this just made my day!” she shouted.

I was so delighted and I couldn’t stop smiling. I was as cheerful as a little kid on Christmas morning. My friend and I were overjoyed, so grateful and we knew we accomplished something great.

We started practicing as a team everyday but in a blink of an eye was our very first game. It was a cool, sunny, Thursday and my team and I were ready to dominate Colonial. I felt a little shaky because it was my very first real volleyball game so I didn’t know what to expect. The outcome of the game was perfect, because we definitely ruled Colonial by beating them in both matches. I thought I did pretty well, for being only my first game. After the game, I felt the intensity of the sport and immediately fell in love with it. I knew it was the sport for me.

Deciding to play volleyball was the best decision I ever made. I couldn’t be happier because we were undefeated the whole season and it felt magnificent! Not only did I learn a new sport, I learned some very valuable lessons that I will carry on in my lifetime for sure. The main, most important one was that hard work really does pay off. Now I know that hard work will take you far in life, it brings up your confidence level, and helps you strive to win. Along the way, I met some amazing new teammates; it was so much fun to play with them and to become friends with them. I plan on pursuing my love for volleyball and playing more and more. For now on, I will always dream big, work hard and believe that everything is possible.