Mfena Gwaza '14 Recruiting Profile

Life is about loving, but what if the one thing you loved didn’t love you back? Most of us fell in love with girls, some of us with money and power, but the thing I fell in love with was a dream.

I was 5-years-old when I first held a volleyball . I was 8 when I first held a PSP and played On a court. I was obsessed with the game, even though I do not understand what was it for. I was 10 when I first played the real deal, and I immediately fell in love with it.

To the young motivated athlete I was, thank you for the tireless efforts. The countless hours you’ve played. The large amount of money you spent on camps and shoes. The energy you put up every minute of training. The high intensity play you brought up with you and your teammates.

It was all because of hope and love. Regardless of the lapses and flaws you have in your game, you strived to get better. You out hustled the hustle. You grinded day-in-and-day-out.

You loved the hate. You loved the competition it gave you. The rubbery smell of the ball, the squeaky sound of the court, the bruises it gave your knees, you loved them all.

You hated losing, and you’ll do whatever it takes to win. You loved the pain and you loved the criticism.To all aspiring athletes out there, work hard for your dream. Test the distance and excel at your sport. If you really want to play the sport you love for a living, don’t give up and train your heart out.
I gave you an example, a taste of reality. But my reality is not the same for you. You have a choice to change it. Even though I had no power to change mine, I want to inspire you to change yours.
To the young motivated athlete I was, may you be an example of who to tolerate. And to the successful athlete I will never be, may you be a warning, an example, and a wake up call to all of them.