The End of Something Great

Yesterday ended a chapter of my life that has been a significant part of making me who I am...I played my last game of volleyball at the collegiate level. Volleyball has been a part of my life since the day I was born, and something that I have loved for about the same amount of time. My world revolved around the sport and truly made me into the person I am. I love this game and as I have reflected on why it means so much, I thought of these 5 reasons:

1. It strengthened the relationship between me and my mom. Without volleyball I wouldn't have had the opportunity to spend as much time with my amazing mom. The many drives multiple times a week to practice and on the weekends to tournaments, long drives to National tournaments, and just the late nights talking about the game. I love my mom and have gained so much respect for her as a person because of volleyball.

2. I have made some of my very best friends because of volleyball. This game teaches you how to work with other people and allows you to develop relationships with them. Over the many years of playing I have met so many people who have touched my life. Some have stayed and continue to be part of my life, some I see occasionally, and others I don't see anymore, but each one is special and played a role in my life.

3. It tested my strength. Not only physically, but mentally. I am a much stronger person because of volleyball. I have had teams I didn't particularly like and others that I loved. The challenge that each team brought with it prepared me for many situations in life that I wouldn't have been able to learn otherwise. I am strong!

4. It taught me self-respect. Confidence is something that girls struggle with all over the world. Volleyball gave me something to have confidence about. I believed in myself and that in turn gave me confidence to do other things. I respect myself as a person because volleyball taught me that I am a good person and deserve to have respect.

5. It brought me some of the happiest moments in my life, but also taught me it's ok to lose every once in a while! :) Most of the time you learn more from losing. As I look back across my life, some of my happiest moments are on the volleyball court. Each team I have been a part of has taught me something new. Seeing all of the hours of hard work pay off in beating a team that you aren't supposed to beat is the greatest feeling in the world. My junior year of high school beating our rival Sky View was great, in club finally beating that team that it seemed like you could never beat, my first year of college beating Northwest who was ranked #17 in the country at the time, and this year beating the College of Southern Idaho, the defending National Champions, in 3 games and having to come from behind to win was so satisfying. The ultimate moment was in the 3rd place game at the Junior College National Tournament. We KILLED Salt Lake Community College in 3 games to finish as the 3rd best team in the country. As I looked around at all the girls on and off the court, knowing their sacrifices and hardships, the love we had for each other and the game, and knowing that we had just won was the greatest feeling volleyball has provided me.

Club 2008-2009

Senior Year

WWCC 2010

As I close this chapter in my life I think of the quote, "Don't be sad because it's over, smile because it happened." So today I smile because volleyball has given me some of my greatest blessings. This game will forever be a part of my life, but now it just won't be the center of it. Thank you to all of you who have been a part of this chapter of my life. I can't wait to see what this new one has in store for me! :)