Personal Statement
Being captain of the volleyball team during the pandemic has been a very rocky but enlightening experience. My team, along with three other teams from the same city, were the only programs in the state that didn't have a season during 2020. I was crushed, as the sport I love was cancelled, and I knew it was going to be difficult to lead the incoming team that had never played together.
When we finally went back to school and sports were allowed to resume, it was difficult learning to lead an inexperienced team with the pressure of being a year behind everyone else. When I was a freshman and got moved up to varsity, adjusting to the level of play was the hardest aspect of playing at the new level. Now I was the one to catch everyone up to speed. I knew that getting frustrated with the new players wasn't going to help anyone. I realized that to lead this team, I needed to set a solid foundation. When people who've never played volleyball before began to succeed, I started to feel like a true leader. Helping the new players while bettering my own skills was a helpful balance that I had discovered.
Even though we definitely struggled, learning how to mentor others as teammates, but also connecting with them off the court was a significant experience for me as captain and as a friend. I have made many more friendships through volleyball with people who I never expected I would become friends with, and bonds with friends that I have been playing with were strengthened even more.
Our first win was a big milestone, and I truly felt that the work I had pushed myself and my teammates through had finally paid off. It was one of my best games, and when we were faced with a challenge, we pushed through the struggles we've had during the year, and won. Overall, being a captain of the sport I love overshadows the struggles we faced, and inspiring and spreading the passion of the game to others shines through.
