volleyball (as usual)

     Everyone always asks me the same question. Is volleyball really worth all the trouble? Is it worth the stress, long hours, classes missed, and the late nights spent studying and staying in instead of going out and having fun? My answer every single time is always positively yes. It makes me kind of aggravated when people ask me this question. I always think, “Why would you even ask that? Isn’t the answer obvious?” People who don’t play a sport don’t realize that you can’t just stop playing. That when someone asks why you put up with it their isn’t an answer that you can just spit out to them.

     Volleyball is more than just a sport to me. As cliché as that sounds, it’s true. I guarantee most people would agree with me when it comes to the sports they play. Volleyball isn’t just a sport it’s a part of my life. I wouldn’t know what to do with myself if I didn’t have volleyball.

     When I decided to play volleyball for the college I considered a lot of things. I knew that it would be stressful and I would have to work harder than other people who have so much free time all day to do homework. The pros list was much longer than these few disadvantages. The pros included staying in shape, making friends, and doing something that I love. It’s kind of like through the transition of going from high school to college I had a constant in my life, which was volleyball. Through all the crazy changes from having a roommate, to being away from home, to not knowing anyone, volleyball was something I was used to. There is nothing new or different about it.

     Volleyball has been so much more than I could have ever imagined. All the girls are so nice and always talk to me when I see them around campus. The coach is very helpful and doesn’t yell often (only when we deserve it). Overall the atmosphere of practices and even games is usually relaxed and fun. Not only are these girls my new friends they are also becoming my family. We all go through the grueling pre-season together, suffer through the tough losses together, and celebrate all the victories that we worked so hard to earn as a team, as a family.  Not only are we there for each other in volleyball, but we are there for each other in life. Something I will never forget was a simple card the team gave me after my grandfather passed away the second day of preseason. I barely knew these girls and already they were there for me to help me out and support me.

     So when asked if volleyball is worth it, that’s my explanation to why it is.  

    

The nervous recruit

It's hard to believe that only a few months ago I was still in high school unsure of where I even wanted to go to college. I went on an overnight visit with the volleyball team at RC in March and I totally forgot how awkward it was until today when a recruit came to stay with me. Now this wasn't a random girl I had never met before, this was a girl who goes to my high school and was on my volleyball team for as long as I can remember. I didn't think that she would be so nervous visiting. She came to our game on Friday and right after she was going to ride back to RC and stay the night with me. As I was talking with her she kept on mentioning how she didn't know what to do, or if she should even go to dinner with us. She didn't want to be weird or be shunned. I was thinking to myself why are you so nervous it's just the team. They are all so funny and nice. She ended up going to dinner with us. Which as usual was Wendy's because our coach just loves that place. When we sat down to eat Michaela, the recruit, didn't sit with us. She sat with her dad until I invited her to sit with the rest of the team. 

Michaela is not a shy girl and she can be really loud so I was shocked that at dinner she barely said a word. Again I was thinking don't be nervous! They don't bite, I promise! 

After dinner I called my dad and I mentioned how nervous Michaela was. He responded by reminding me of when I went on my recruiting visit. I hadn't even thought about my experiences until he brought it up. I realized how awkward and nervous I felt when I visited. It's weird being with people you don't know. You don't want to say the wrong thing, because you don't want them to think you're weird. I barely talked on my recruiting visit, because the girls seemed so intimidating. Now being on the team with all the girls I stayed with last year makes me laugh at how nervous I was. These girls are honestly so nice and would include anyone new. 

Now I know how Michaela feels being in a new place with people you don't know. It's terrifying. You freak yourself out by thinking of the worst scenarios that could happen when really nothing bad happens. You just feel so out of place, like you don't belong. I just remember wanting to shout to the girls "I'm good at volleyball I promise, and I have friends so I'm a normal person. Don't think I'm a weirdo!" 

I could not imagine being at any other college or being on any other volleyball team. It's weird to think that only a few months ago RC wasn't my home.  I feel like from Michaela coming to visit it put everything in perspective for me. I took a moment and just was shocked when I realized how much my life has changed in the last few months. It is seriously crazy to think about. 

Tech Weekend

     On Friday afternoon after my last class of the day I was so ready for a fabulous weekend. Weekends usually aren’t too fabulous for me here at Roanoke considering every weekend leading up to this weekend I had been locked up in a hot gym playing volleyball for hours, then going back to my dorm and sleeping my way through the weekend. Not this weekend though. This weekend we had off with no practice Friday, so my weekend started even sooner! I was ready for some needed relaxation and fun. This would be spent at Tech with my best friend Maddie.

     My best friend Maddie goes to Virginia Tech, and we were so excited when we found out we were going to schools that were thirty minutes away from each other.  We even joked that we were “college neighbors”. Maddie lives in my neighborhood at home, and we were together almost every day during my four years in high school. I’ve never gone more than two weeks without seeing her. Going to college was a big change from this, but we promised we would visit each other all the time. We didn’t take into consideration the fact that neither of us would have cars and both our schedules would be super busy. It turns out our optimistic plan to still hang out all the time fell flat. I hadn’t seen Maddie in two months. However, that was all about to change, because on Friday my dad was in the area for work and volunteered to drive me down to Tech.  

     I had texted and called Maddie the past two months, but it’s not the same as seeing someone in person.  In the drive down to Tech I was so excited to see my best friend. However, in the back of my mind there was a voice whispering what if she has changed? What if you guys have nothing in common anymore? I tried pushing these thoughts away because I knew they were ridiculous. Anyone who knows us knows we are basically the same person. My mind wouldn’t be at ease, though, until I got to Tech and found out first hand if Maddie had changed.

     Finally, after a thirty-minute drive that felt more like hours I had arrived at Tech. I felt so lost on the big campus. I was not used to this considering Tech has 15 times more students than RC. When I arrived on campus I texted Maddie where I was so she could come get me. While I waited for her to come I was just looking around exploring the campus. Suddenly someone hugged me and startled me. I turned around and squealed when I realized it was Maddie! Just seeing her made me realize how stupid I was for even thinking that she had changed or that we would have nothing in common anymore.

     The weekend was fabulous, just like I had wanted it to be. We went to a football game, I met all her friends, and we just got to hang out like old times. Now I realize no matter how long Maddie and I go without talking we will always be close and nothing can change that.

home sweet home

     I was anxiously waiting Friday night at 8 pm. You wonder what’s so exciting about this time? Well, it’s the time I was going to be able to go home! Every weekend since the beginning of school I have had volleyball and was unable to visit home. My parents come to all my games so I get to see them all the time, but I still wanted to go home. I wanted to see my cats and my puppy and sleep in my own bed again! I was so excited when I found out I had the weekend off.  The week went by excruciatingly slow. All I wanted to do was go home.

     Finally it was Friday night and my volleyball game was over and that meant it was time to drive the hour and fifty minutes back to good old Charlottesville, Virginia. In the car I was so energetic and chatty. I was too excited to go home and I couldn’t shut up about all the things I was looking forward to seeing and doing like seeing all my animals, going shopping, eating at Bodos, sleeping in my own bed, walking my dog, and so much more. I think my dad was mentally strangling me because I was being so obnoxious.  

     As the car pulled up to the driveway I saw my orange and white cat Simba come up beside the car. I ran out of the car and picked him up like a baby. He hates when I do this, but today he let me hold him without fighting me. This totally proved he missed me right? After I set him down I ran into the house and was greeted by my puppy Tucker running up to me with a wagging tail. He gets really excited to see people and can’t control his bladder, so just my luck he peed all over my tennis shoes. Oh nothing has changed. But hey, I didn’t complain, I was just happy to see him.  I took him for a walk once he stopped freaking out with excitement. The one thing that I think I missed most from home was being able to walk Tucker.

     It was about eleven thirty when I went up to bed. I hadn’t been in my room yet, and I was excited to go in and jump on my comfy bed. As I walked in I realized it was so clean. My room is never clean, and when I left it was a mess with clothes all over the place. However, tonight the room was spotless and my bed was neatly made.  This was the handy work of my dad. I am so pampered, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. Before college I didn’t know how to do laundry and I could barely make my bed.  My dad did my laundry for me and even folded it all for me. Now I’m placed in the harsh real world of college life where I have to do my own laundry AND fold my clothes. I was appalled. Well not really, but it was a struggle the first couple times I did it.

    After getting over the initial shock of how clean my room was I realized it was strange being back. I felt like I shouldn’t be there. I felt like I should be back in my tiny little dorm room sharing the room with another person. It was so strange going to sleep not worrying about bothering another person.  I actually had trouble sleeping, because I was so used to sleeping in my dorm room. It was odd being in such a big room and being all alone. It was definitely strange; I never thought I would see the day where I actually missed my dorm room. Don’t get me wrong, I probably live in the nicest dorm room ever, but I always just miss having my old room back at home.

      The next morning I woke up to the wonderful smell of Bodos bagels. Bodos is a restaurant only in Charlottesville, and I definitely was home sick for it while I was at college. My mouth was watering for the warm bagel with the melted cinnamon and sugar on top. My favorite!

      Being home was strange at first but was so fun and relaxing. This weekend was definitely needed, and now I feel rejuvenated and less home sick. Even though I love college and am really comfortable here, it’s always good to have a nice family weekend back home. I can’t wait for the next time I am able to go home again.