coming of age (final draft)

             Mohs high school tryouts were three days of  pressure, nervousness, and sweating. All of our hard work finally came down to the last day.  I was so nervous about making it through or not made me feel like I could barely breathe!  I could feel the horrible butterflies in my stomach kicking in as the last ten minutes came to an end.  I knew it right then and there I kept telling my self  "I'm done, I just I'm done. I didn't make it."  I stepped out of the drill for just a second, then they called my name.  I could still hear my self saying "I hope I make it, I hope I make it."

      When I walked toward him, I could feel my hands shake as I anxiously waited for his words.  

    Coach Allen asked me,"How do you think you did today?" The words could barely come out of my mouth as the nerves started to kick in but slowly I told coach Allen that I think I tried my best and I think I did okay.  When three other girls came running over he finally told us the news that we didn't make it but gave us the opportunity as manager.  Holding my tears back, trying not to cry in front of everyone, I told myself to think about the positive and not the negative. I thought that this will help me in the future for I know I will eventually get cut from other things and I need to be prepared.  
 
     My mom kept telling me to "Be thankful that you're manager and you still can practice with the team, and somewhat be on the team."  I realize I should be thankful because I still get to be with all of my friends.  I'm so glad that I got this opportunity to be manager because it made me realize that you don't have to be on the team to be a part of the team.  As manager, I still get get to be with my friends, get the workouts I need, but I just don't get to play in the games. But that's fine with me.

    There were many changes in my life when I came to MoHS.     I went through the quick transition from middle school to high school, making new friends, different teachers, but I didn't think volleyball would be the that was most challenging.  I will always remember the hard work that I put into volleyball tryouts this summer.  I realize that throughout the experience of not making the team I can now understand the heartbreaking sadness of wanting something so badly but not getting it.  That doesn't mean you give up.  Being a team manager is a great experience


    Not making the volleyball team was one of the hardest things I have had to face.  I learned that there is more to volleyball than being a player on the team.  I have learned how to deal with disappointment and how to look at the brighter side of things.  I realize that throughout the experience of not making the team I can now understand the heartbreaking sadness of wanting something so badly but not getting it.  This experience will help me in the future because life has many ups and downs.  It is easy to celebrate the ups, but learning to deal with the downs and turning it into a positive is something that I will never forget.