Volleyball Player Blog
Entry #13, Jenna Hatfield, Sr., Norfolk, Neb.
The volleyball season has ended and after the emotional rollercoaster of realizing that I am done with volleyball is over, I can now peacefully sit back and reflect on my time as a coyote athlete. I have had many fond memories with so many of my teammates and I can think back to times when I’ve laughed so hard with some of them that my stomach muscles have hurt. Not only has being an athlete at USD allowed me to form these great bonds but it has also helped me to gain many other valuable items in life.
One of these items is that I have learned so much about myself and I have learned to become a better leader though athletics. One memory in particular is when I was selected to attend the NCAA Student Athlete Leadership Conference. This opportunity was truly amazing and it not only allowed me to meet many great athletes from across the United States, but it also helped me to learn so much about who I am and what I stand for. It is opportunities like this that help me and other student-athletes go on to post-graduate and doctorate programs.
A few weeks ago, as I gave my senior speech at our end of the season banquet, I passed on some things that I have learned about life to the underclassmen. It is amazing how many life lessons can be taught through participating in collegiate sports, and I believe that it is in much thanks to an amazing coaching staff and amazing parents that I have been able to learn these lessons as well.
First of all, I have learned to always look at things from another person’s perspective. This often helps us to understand situations much better and understand our teammates better. I have learned that sometimes life sucks, but we must all learn to just deal with it. When things get hard we can’t take the easy way out, and we can’t give up on our dreams. Because much like a really hard workout, it absolutely sucks while you’re doing it, but once you’ve finished you feel a huge sense of accomplishment and are glad you didn’t give up. I’ve learned to not stress over trying to control things that I have no control over, but to instead focus my energy on controlling the things I do have control over. I have learned to always ask myself, what can I do to make things better, or what could I have done to help us win that game, or to get a better score on my test. I have learned to hold myself accountable. I’ve also learned that life is too short to be a pessimist and that your day is always brighter if you look at the glass as half full and not half empty. And finally, I’ve learned to understand that my coaches and teammates are only human, I’ve learned to be forgiving and not continually hold grudges because I am only human too and because some people will never change.
While I’ve learned these many things I can’t say that I do any of them perfectly, but I am proud to say that I can acknowledge the moments when I may not be following my own advice, and sometimes I think that is the hardest thing for a person to admit. If you can acknowledge your faults than at least you can make an effort to fix them and change.
On one hand I am sad that I will no longer play collegiate volleyball but on the other hand I am not devastated that this time has come. I am content with what I have accomplished and look forward to moving on with the next phase of my life. I am excited to attend dental school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center this fall and I am definitely looking forward to participating in the alumni match next year. Maybe after I’ve graduated from dental school, USD can one up the University of North Dakota, and their gymnasium nicknamed the “Betty”, because with my help, maybe some day, USD can build the “Hattie”! While this may be my last blog entry as a USD volleyball player I will forever be a YOTE and forever bleed coyote red!
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