When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Some Lemonade

Tonight was volleyball practice. Man, do we really work hard at practice or what? I was really working hard because we play a team on Saturday that is really good. One of my friends on the team told me that the coach is only taking 13 girls this time. Well you probably already know where I am going with this.

So all through practice I was working my hardest. I was trying so hard to get on that group of girls that was going. The motive I had was that my brother and sister-in-law were going to be at the game to watch me. This would be the first time my brother had ever watched me play volleyball, so you know I was really working hard.

It finally came down to it. Coach made the announcement that theses three girls see her after practice, “Renita, Kate…..and Erin” Oh man my heart sank right then when I heard my name. I knew that my brother would have to wait another time to see his little sister play. But wait there are only 15 girls on the team, and she was taking 13. Could there be hope?

It came down to Kate and myself. Now Kate was the girl who had told me in the first place that coach was only taking 13 girls. Coach looked at me and said, “You girls have made it very difficult for me to decide who is going and who is staying, but this time I think I am going to take Kate.” I tried to hold back the tears, and I was doing pretty good until Kate came up to me and said, “Erin, I know you have family coming to the game, and I am going to tell coach to take you and not me.” I said, “Go ahead. Loser, I’m better than you anyways!” No, No, No! I did not say that. I just smiled and said, “Thanks, but you deserve it more than I do.”

You know you never really know what great friends you have until it comes down to a trial in your life. I could have easily gotten mad at the coach or at Kate. I could have quit the team, but I didn’t. I didn’t because I know that there was a reason. I know I’m only a freshman and most of the girls on the team are more experienced than me. I will just have to work a whole lot more next time.

~ by Lauren on September 10, 2007.