Failing. Volleyball has taught me that no matter how many hours and tears you put into it, you will never be perfect at the game. Mistakes are going to happen, attitudes will rise, and negative thoughts will swarm your mind during a game over a couple of mistakes. The reality is that perfection will never exist in a game of volleyball. Loving the game during my 7th-grade gym class led me to try out for my middle school team. I had only touched the ball 7 to 8 times before tryout day, yet my heart wanted to play anyway. I quickly noticed the skills of the other girls compared to mine. "How long have they been playing?". "They are so talented". "I'll never compare". I ended up making Team B, but I was nowhere where I hoped to be one day. After the season, I overheard the girls in my athletics class talking about volleyball club season. I did not know such a thing existed, but if it meant a chance to get better- I wanted it. However, my parents' plans were different. We did not have enough money to put me into the club for all 5 years that I begged to join. Even while trying to raise my own money, I fell short. Watching my teammates grow in their skills and mindsets fueled my fears of never comparing and failing consistently. My last resort was my faded blue volleyball and my desolate backyard. I suffered through painful concrete scrapes on my knees, elbows, and hands while diving for balls off brick walls, skin allergies due to being low on the grass, and constant bruises on various parts of my body. I spent my whole summer before freshman year this way, hoping something good could come out of my determination and suffering. I made the freshman team, then Junior Varsity, and lastly, I landed a starting spot on Varsity my junior year. I occasionally get asked whether I played club because of my talent being like those girls who spent years in clubs and private training. I would not have made it this far if I had not failed a million times. Realizing failing was common in every aspect of life and every sport is what I had to overcome. Not failure itself. Volleyball taught me that failure exists more than perfection. Failure is the path leading to determination, eventually guiding you to attempting perfection. I plan to use this experience in my college career by being determined to make my college career the most distinguished it can be. Displaying the ambition, drive, and passion I taught myself all those months in my backyard will help me pursue my medical career. The exposure and relationship that I have had with volleyball will ultimately set me up for success in college because I now know what it is like to handle situations blindly, with no resources, and still come out better than when I entered.

Goosebumps raced across my whole body as I glided my finger across the cold, wet metal rod in the produce aisle of our grocery store. My papa had brought me with him to collect the items needed to make my favorite supper meal-enchiladas! I gazed up at him with a wide grin, happy to be spending time with him because he always made sure to put me as a priority in his busy life. However, when he spoke in our native tongue, goosebumps reached my mouth and slowly disintegrated my smile. How could he speak our language aloud in public when people always gave us sharp, dirty glances as if their ears were pierced by hearing Spanish words? I hid behind his worn-down leather coat, scared of the disgusted looks I received constantly from onlooking viewers. My papà pushed me out of the comfort I found within his jacket's shadow and came eye level with me. "Mija, we cannot be afraid to choose how we live our own lives because no one sees through your eyes as you do". I felt goosebumps crawling over my body, but this time it was not from the cold or fear, but from the memory of the move to the US. My mother and father had visioned their lives differently than their relatives. They wanted a better life and future which was promised in the vast land known as the United States. With no choice, I packed my hopes and dreams in a sparkly pink backpack and left my home in El Salvador behind. In this way, I can relate to Malgorzata's challenge of moving to the US. Although I did have a support system, I was still challenged in my aspects throughout my life because of my heritage. My father's words from that day years ago live in me today. That phrase that I have written in my heart has pushed me to overcome mental and physical obstacles to this day just as Maggie has. My determination can be seen in the hours upon hours I spent improving myself alone in volleyball, golf, and swimming because I had no way to pay for private lessons or coaches. My bravery is displayed as I broke my younger self out of her shy barrier, now able to speak and show my heritage in front of huge crowds as a church volunteer and HOSA secretary. I also see Maggie as a role model because she is determined to pursue an educational career. I refuse to disappoint my parents as I have gotten to see firsthand how difficult life was for my mother as her education was ripped from her hand due to the lack of support on her end. Over the years, I have learned that freedom and education are misused commodities, but people like Maggie are proof that having a mentality that pushes you to propel further can only result in grasping those desired goals and dreams.