In seventh grade I made a decision that would change my life forever. I decided to try out for the middle school volleyball team. Throughout tryouts I felt I wasn't good enough to play, but the coach saw something special in me that I never saw and I made the team. From then on, I played volleyball till my senior year of high school. I went through many teams, coaches and players, but volleyball changed me for the better. I was not that shy seventh grader who lacked self-confidence anymore. I became the confident, outgoing player that I am today. I learned the volleyball lingo and routines that will change the way I do everyday tasks. Volleyball has taught me many things and has allowed me to think in a different way. I was often asked if I played volleyball so I came up with 20 signs that made people think I was a volleyball player.

1. Someone says pepper and you thing of the warmup, not the spice.

2. Someone says, "These clothes smell so bad" and you reply, "if you think that is bad, you should smell my kneepads."

3. When people say volleyball is easy, you start to go on a rant explaining everything that makes volleyball not "easy."

4. You "set" everything in sight.

5. You parade your floor burns and bruises like trophies and each one has its own story.

6. You are a master at French braiding or know another volleyball player that can French braid.

7. You own a million pairs of spandex.

8. You also wear those spandex under your dress or skirt.

9. You use your approach to reach something high.

10. You slap someone and they say that was a mean slap so you say that it is because you played volleyball and that's the hand you use to hit the ball.

11. You bring a volleyball everywhere.

12. A pancake is not only a breakfast food.

13. Queen of the Court is a matter of life and death.

14. You know how good the feeling is after you get the perfect kill.

15. A block party is not what people throw during the summer, it is when you block someone.

16. Getting told you only play because you are tall, but you have a list in your head already to tell them you play for many other reasons.

17. Getting your hands/fingers taped is necessary before you play because you are still recovering from jamming your fingers on the ground/ball.

18. You know how to get low.

19. Throwing yourself on the floor is easy because you have a lot of practice.

20. You can not imagine yourself playing anything other than volleyball.

Although at times you wish that the volleyball season would be over, you can't imagine playing anything else. You grew up with volleyball and it will still be there for you throughout your life. You may even have volleyball playing kids one day and you hope that if they play, they will experience the same amazing experience you had playing volleyball. Volleyball players are one of a kind and, if you get the chance to meet one, never let them go.