Dear Volleyball,

Whoa, we’ve sure been together a long time. I remember when we first met in fifth grade when my mother convinced me to try out for club volleyball. It was something I was excited about, for my love of the game had already begun, but I was also scared out of my mind about, for I was still in my shy stage. Volleyball has given me everything in life. My best friends, my work ethic, even my college education. I owe so much to this sport, and it will always hold a very special place in my heart.

Thank you for giving me my best friends. I remember being at that first day of club tryouts, passing the ball back and forth with a girl with short, brown hair. Little did I know it was the beginning of a long friendship, and that I’d be playing with her through my senior year of high school. I’ve been on many, many different teams throughout my volleyball career, from church-league volleyball to school volleyball, to club volleyball. On each of these teams, I’ve met some of my very best friends, building some of the strongest relationships I’ve ever been apart of with one common factor: volleyball.

Something about traveling around the country, spending hours a day playing countless matches of volleyball with a group of people brings you incredibly close. They become your breath of fresh air, a life away from school, home and work. I’m confident that a lot of these girls will be my friends for life.

Thank you for teaching me to be a better person. A person that works hard for what she wants, shows resilience in all aspects of life and is passionate about what she does. Those long hours of training taught me to push myself to the very limits of my being. The endless days at tournaments, playing up to seven matches in one day taught me to be strong. Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of time management, the value of good sportsmanship, but most importantly, the importance of dedication. I learned that if I completely commit myself to something, there’s nothing I can’t accomplish, including obtaining a Division I scholarship to continue playing the sport I love.

Thank you for being my escape. No matter what I had going on at school, work or home, I always had you to turn to. At some points, you were my very best friend, the only one I could turn to. I will forever be grateful to you for giving me something to be passionate about growing up, something to pursue and fight to get better and better at.

From days spent in the gym on the hardwood, to splashing in the sun, playing on the beach during those hot, sunny days, thank you for it all. The memories you’ve given me will forever be cherished in my heart.

Love you to the moon and back,

A Volleyball Player