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Evanna Danley

Professor Lewallen

ENG 112-806

7 March 2023

Volleyball For Life

To triumph is rewarding; to struggle is enriching. Although primarily everyone prefers

triumph to struggle, both are beneficial to the growth of character, and both are acquired in the

game of volleyball. What is mastered in the game of volleyball not only includes physical skill

sets, but also attributes that can be applied to many aspects of life in the present and future.

Everyone on a volleyball team has the same motive of ultimate triumph. The most

obvious reward of triumph in the game of volleyball is the satisfaction of success, but there are

other rewards that sometimes hide in the shadow of the big picture. As a player it is their

responsibility in the game of volleyball to not only think how they might excel individually, but

how the team might excel as a whole. To triumph, a team must communicate and work together.

Both of these attributes are rewarding to have and can be used everywhere in life. Anywhere

where there is a group of people you must work in, these characteristics will be highly beneficial.

To taste triumph is satisfactory and it allows people to absorb the feeling and long for it. In many

situations this allows players to chase after it and in turn work harder for it creating a strong and

dedicated work ethic. But along with triumph always resides struggle and failure.

As my volleyball coach continually tells us, “I don’t mind when you make a mistake, but

I do mind when you don’t try to fix it.” This mindset stays with me in everything I do now.

Struggles and failures are just places for improvement. The only time you truly fail is when you

don’t strive to improve where things went wrong. Struggle teaches players to learn problem-
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solving on their own, to look within for answers and fixes. With so much of sports being mental,

volleyball athletes can build their mental fortitude, which will provide benefits in sports and

other aspects of life.

During my experience with volleyball, I can testify that it strongly improved my

dedication to success, and knowing that I must put in effort if I want to come out on top.

Volleyball has taught me how to listen, learn, and apply. I love success which means that I love

fixing the places in which I struggle and fail. As an accomplished American volleyball player

named Al Scates said, “You have to be willing to fail to improve.” This means that we cannot be

scared of failure, we must overcome it and surpass the struggles. All of these learned attributes

are exemplified in the great game of volleyball.