YMCA Youth Volleyball Coach by Rothani

YMCA Youth Volleyball Coach by Rothani - December 2019 Scholarship Essay

Growing up I have always had a desire to help people and animals. In elementary school, I organized a school-wide newspaper drive for a local animal shelter. In middle school, I volunteered with Harvest Hope Food Bank working as the Cool Can Sam mascot and in the food pantry during Thanksgiving. While in high school, I have volunteered at my local hospital and have coached several seasons of youth volleyball at the Eastside YMCA. I also work part-time as a Disney princess and a cashier and party host at Skyzone Trampoline Park.

The community service experience that I have enjoyed the most was coaching three seasons of YMCA youth volleyball. My first season of coaching started in May 2018 and I just ended my last season in May 2019. Ironically, I had signed up to coach in April 2018, and then I tore my ACL the following month during a club volleyball game. At first I was devastated that I would not be able to coach volleyball because of my injury but Coach Ervin, the YMCA Director, didn’t worry about it. I really wanted to stay involved in the game even though I couldn’t play. I had signed up to coach because when I was younger I played on a YMCA volleyball team and I wanted to teach younger players the game. Volleyball is a growing sport for girls, and there are so many that want to learn how to play.

At first I was fearful because I had never coached before and I was injured, but that quickly went away when I met the girls. When the first practice came around, everyone looked at me and thought I was a player and I was too young to coach. All that changed when it came to the first game and we won! It was so exciting to see the girls build their confidence in the sport. Coaching volleyball has made me a better person and will make me a better player when I go to college. Because of my experience, I am more patient, better organized and more responsible. Giving back to others not only helps them, but it helps you as well. I am thankful that I was given the opportunity to coach YMCA volleyball and do my part to grow the game of volleyball for young girls. I feel that coaching has the ability to make anyone a leader because you not only have the players depending on you but their parents as well.

I am excited to have the opportunity to continue my education at Limestone College next year. I will be majoring in Biology-Health Science/Pre-Nursing, with a career goal of becoming a nurse. Nursing is something I consider to be helping profession. I want to help patients and their families that are dealing with an illness or injury feel comforted that everything will be okay. I want to be able to help them understand what is happening because the medical terminology doctors use can be confusing and scary. While in college I will be looking for as many opportunities as possible to grow as a leader and continue to serve my community while focusing on my academics.