Quicksets with Kenzie: Problems as a volleyballer

"Don't be pushed around by your problems. Be led by your dreams." --Anonymous.

Some people think that being a volleyball girl is easy, but there are many things that a volleyball girl has to balance in order to be physically and emotionally healthy.

Take me, for instance. My sophomore year, I had the CIF track meet in the morning, prom at night, and a volleyball tournament the next morning. Juggling sports, schoolwork, and a social life is difficult enough, but some of my friends have problems finding even clothes.

At a tournament one year, my team and I had to drive up to a city near Los Angeles. One of the middle blockers on my team (who happened to be 6'3") was happy because at the end of the tournament, she was going to visit a Big&Tall Girl's Shop. It was one of the only stores that made jeans extra-long.

Another one of our middle blockers was 6'2", but could never find shoes that would fit. Her feet were larger than a normal girl's due to her height, but they were also narrow, making it nearly impossible to find new shoes that fit.

Beyond clothes, though, simply finding a boyfriend becomes an ordeal. Most girls prefer taller guys, but you're 6'3", it is difficult to find a guy that's taller than you in high school.

Social time is severely limited; in fact, there are many Facebook groups that address this fact. I am in a group called 'Sorry, I can't... I have volleyball.' And not just for volleyball, but many other sports as well. Even though competing is fun, there is severely limited time for social life.

Furthermore, you have to learn to get along with people, even if you don't like them because the high school season is three months long, and club is six. Sometimes dealing with the same people for that long
can get to be a serious burden.

So, is being a volleyball girl as easy as it looks? Heck no.

And remember, hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard

Kenzie Aries