Consolation of Volleyball

Ever since I can remember, I have wanted to be a college volleyball player. For years and years I practiced. Going early or staying later just to get some extra reps in. It seemed like I was always at the gym working on things, or in the weightroom trying to get faster and stronger. I got the opportunity to come play at Faulkner, and I accepted it. I couldn’t ever imagine my life without volleyball. Until I had that one coach that ruined everything for me.

After that travel ball season, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to play in college anymore. All my doubts and fears about it came out and I began to ask myself, “What if I hate it” , “What if my coach and/or teammates don’t like me” or, “What if my coach is really mean”. For weeks I was concerned about this, so my best friend took me to the volleyball gym and tried reminding me of how much I loved the sport and no coach can ruin that for me. After awhile of just playing for fun, she went into the locker room to grab something.

It seemed like she was gone forever. After about five minutes I hear a noise and look up and I saw a dark figure lurking outside of the gym doors. “Who’s there?” I said. The mysterious person quietly steps inside into the light. That’s when I realize who it is. It is Lady Volleyball. She is the one that helped me fall in love with the game in the first place. Honestly, to have her back here, visiting me again, I knew it was important.

Lady Volleyball steps into the gym and starts to approach me. She is wearing leggings, an oversized t-shirt, and bright blue nike tennis shoes. So the appropriate athletic wear/everyday outfits for most volleyball players, other than the blue tennis shoes. The way she holds herself you can tell she is confident, athletic, and genuine, you can tell she really cares. It must’ve been at least four years since I last saw her and she hasn’t changed a bit.

“So I hear you are second guessing yourself on whether or not you want to play volleyball in college.” Lady Volleyball said.

I shrugged my shoulders and said, “I’m not really sure if that’s what I want to do anymore.”

“Well let me ask you this…”

“Okay, what” I said.

“If you don’t want to play volleyball anymore, then what do you want to do? After all, you have always wanted this since you started playing. You have spent countless hours working hard to become a better volleyball player.”

I agreed with her and said, “I know. I just think its not for me. You know, some things are better suited for different kinds of people. I guess I’m just not suited for college volleyball.”

“And who gave you such an idea like this?”

Trying to fight back the tears, I responded to her, “My travel ball coach. She told me that I would never be good enough to play volleyball in college and she told me if I ever got lucky enough to be able to play, my coach or teammates wouldn’t like me. She always had something negative to say to me. I think she is the one that instilled these thoughts into my head. But what if she was right. What if they don’t like me Lady Volleyball.”

She had a look of astonishment on her face. She was quiet for a minute then she answered, “That is just crazy. Someone who has such a good opportunity to really impact a teenager’s life should take it. She shouldn’t try and tear you down. You shouldn’t let her. This is one of the many reasons you should follow through on your commitment to play volleyball in college. You shouldn’t let her get that satisfaction of you quitting the sport you love. You need to show her that she didn’t get to you.”

“I see what you’re saying, but I’m scared.”

“Everything’s scary at first,” Lady Volleyball said, “but you’ll never know if you are going to love it or not unless you try it. If you just think that it will be scary and never follow through with anything, she will have that power over you. Do you really want that? Do you really want to give up volleyball over one bad coach?”

“No i don’t want that, and of course not!”

Lady Volleyball said with a smile on her face, “Well I think you just answered your question about if you really want to play in college.”

Right after she says that, I look to the other side of the gym after hearing another noise. Out comes my best friend from the locker room holding a bright blue volleyball asking if I have made a decision yet. I look back to where Lady Volleyball was standing, there was no one there. I turn back around and said gladly, “I think so, I think I’m going to continue my volleyball career in college.”