Back to school season had knocked on every door of Tirana to deliver a message: September has arrived and so has school. Although I was enthusiastic to reunite with my classmates, the idea of innumerable assignments and tests ready to conquer my spare time was inevitable. This dreadful forecast sent a cold shiver down my spine, paralyzing me for a couple of minutes, struck by the realization that I would not be able to participate in any sports. Later that day, I turned on the TV to notice the news flash: “The mayor of Tirana, Mr. Veliaj, has inaugurated the newest volleyball club, Tirana Volleyball Club, which is perfect for interested children in this sport.” Despite the fact that school was around the corner, I decided to throw my insecurities
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The colossal field was surrounded by equipment and a net, which split the field in half like the equator. Ms. Jenny, the coach, briefly introduced herself in a calming voice and charming smile of pearly white teeth. Her resemblance to a model which had stepped out of a photo shoot was undeniable. Everyone else around me, mostly teens, possessed an athletic posture and seemed like qualified players. During the last ten minutes of practice, I hardly tried to keep up several passes with Emily, a fellow girl from Saranda. I struggled to keep the volleyball in the air, and the teacher was not satisfied with my ability: “Try to pass the ball with your fingertips, not with your whole palm— alright?” Ms. Jenny explained. “In addition, if you can push the ball a little further, please do.” “Thank you for the advice, coach!” I quietly murmured. Attending the volleyball club the first day was the beginning of an endless practice awaiting in the near …show more content…
One morning, when the field shined gracefully from the delicate sunshine penetrating through a broken window, Ms. Jenny waved some fliers in the air: “Our team has been accepted in the volleyball championship of Albania, 2016, where we will compete against different teams until two final competitors are left. To earn the golden cup, we must work ten times more than before— understood?” “Yes ma’am!” my team yelled as everyone held their hand by their forehead imitating the military gesture. Ms. Jenny demonstrated unique exercises almost every day; such as neck and shoulder stretches, dynamic chest, hip circles, and toe touches lead by seven to eight laps around the field. Gallons of sweat dripped down my back and forehead, but I never took a break. Ms. Jenny was not the same sweet teacher, but had morphed to a screeching dragon from the eager of training us perfectly. I had never imagined being in a field with professionals and being able to play at same standards as them. The intense training had built up my confidence to believe that I was ready to participate in the ‘volleyball championship of
The colossal field was surrounded by equipment and a net, which split the field in half like the equator. Ms. Jenny, the coach, briefly introduced herself in a calming voice and charming smile of pearly white teeth. Her resemblance to a model which had stepped out of a photo shoot was undeniable. Everyone else around me, mostly teens, possessed an athletic posture and seemed like qualified players. During the last ten minutes of practice, I hardly tried to keep up several passes with Emily, a fellow girl from Saranda. I struggled to keep the volleyball in the air, and the teacher was not satisfied with my ability: “Try to pass the ball with your fingertips, not with your whole palm— alright?” Ms. Jenny explained. “In addition, if you can push the ball a little further, please do.” “Thank you for the advice, coach!” I quietly murmured. Attending the volleyball club the first day was the beginning of an endless practice awaiting in the near …show more content…
One morning, when the field shined gracefully from the delicate sunshine penetrating through a broken window, Ms. Jenny waved some fliers in the air: “Our team has been accepted in the volleyball championship of Albania, 2016, where we will compete against different teams until two final competitors are left. To earn the golden cup, we must work ten times more than before— understood?” “Yes ma’am!” my team yelled as everyone held their hand by their forehead imitating the military gesture. Ms. Jenny demonstrated unique exercises almost every day; such as neck and shoulder stretches, dynamic chest, hip circles, and toe touches lead by seven to eight laps around the field. Gallons of sweat dripped down my back and forehead, but I never took a break. Ms. Jenny was not the same sweet teacher, but had morphed to a screeching dragon from the eager of training us perfectly. I had never imagined being in a field with professionals and being able to play at same standards as them. The intense training had built up my confidence to believe that I was ready to participate in the ‘volleyball championship of