I had tried every sport in the book, and I mean every. Cheerleading was "my sport" for a while and I grew to love it, although it was a single person that changed that to hatred. A single coach who was supposed to be a mentor-- a friend. However, this person ruined it all for me and made me quit the sport I had come to adore. A few years later I came to my new school hoping for a new beginning socially. Only here did I discover my new passion-- volleyball.

I reluctantly joined the team who was already close-knit. As usual, my parents told me I would regret it if I didn't move forward and pursue it. Also, as usual, they were right. I attended our first team meeting and saw our coach, who was also new. I could tell when I first saw her that she was as nervous as I was. She was calming though in a sense. She held herself so confidently and it really made her inner, and obvious outer beauty shine through. Our season started and it was rough. I wasn't the best, as I had no experience. Not only was she patient with my failure, but she turned the ultimate fixer-upper into a finished product.

When I say that she helped, it is truly an understatement. She has been there every step of the way at my school for me and my teammates. Every downfall, she has been there to cure our crazy and dry our tears. Every high, we have gotten to share with her. Not just in the sport, but in life. She makes it a point for us to know that she is always here, whenever we need her; and let's be honest, that's the person most of us aspire to be. She taught me so many things that I can't even put into words. She's sat and listened to us cry over boys, over each other and over ourselves. She has been in the middle of a literal psychotic breakdown (this is no joke). She has been our punching bag when we are angry, but our best friend when we are happy. You see, Angie Vaughan is the ultimate woman. Put her amazing coaching skills aside, and you still have a beautiful person who legitimately pours everything she's got into us. Never once did she give up on me, even when in some cases she probably--scratch that-- definitely should have.

As this chapter ends and another begins, the relationship I have made with her will only become stronger. It's moments and people like this who made all the confusion and hard times okay. I don't want to imagine a world that Mrs. Vaughan isn't in because it would simply be dull. Every day I count my blessings to have a role model and friend like her.