Querencia (final draft)

                  My life truly began four years ago, that is my volleyball life of course.  I had gone to games and watched friends play, but never really played any of it myself.  Until one day, I had a feeling that I wanted to try volleyball out, see if I liked it.  I had asked my parents and without hesitation they said "sure."  It was gonna be my first year of volleyball!
                  During the first season I didn't know what to expect.  But, when it started, practices at the time were boring and seemed to be the same practice after practice after practice.  I didn't know if I should be doing this or that.  Sometimes I would start to drift off, then just end up just staring at the court beneath my feet.  I wouldn't be able to daydream for long because soon a ball would fly in my direction.  But, it was during those times that I could just relax, to just find peace and quite from all the drama and problems in the world.  But, I had found more than just an escape from the world, I had found an appreciation, a connection to the world's best sport and best place to just be yourself.  I could always be myself when I was on the courts, never once did I ever worry about what may have been wearing, about what people may have thought about me.  Every time that I stepped onto the court everything that had been distracting me and that had been on my mind, would just be flushed out.  I just felt like when I had a bad day that I could just go to volleyball court and everything would be just fine.  
                  One real strong memory that I remembered about when I was still learning what being on the court meant was that not everyone had the opportunity to be on a court and still really enjoy every second of it.  Yes, some people may play on courts because they might've played a sport, but does being on the volleyball courts mean anything else to you then just a a simple court?  It was something I had kept asking myself.  Were the volleyball courts something really that special that no one else could've felt so connected to it as you?. . .  And the answer I had told myself.  Yes, yes it was.  That answer won't ever change for me; ever.
                  Just being on the volleyball courts and experiencing everything that I had experienced it all had a huge, huge impact on my athletic life and my personal life.  It had inspired me to continue playing the sport I loved, and to try to make an impact on the people's lives around me.  Thats why the volleyball courts meant so much to me, physically and mentally.  And that's why I knew that I had found my special place, my querencia, my home.

Words From the Heart Namecard (Final Draft)

Querencia

Querncia (rough draft)

                  It was about four years ago.  My first year of playing volleyball, I had gone to games and watched friends play around but never really played any of it myself.  But, it had been one day that I told my parents that I wanted to play volleyball, and so they said sure.  Of course tryouts for that age group were simple and small, and so everyone made it.                                                          
                  During the first season I didn't know what to expect.  Practices at the time were boring and seemed to be the same practice after practice after practice.  Butterfly passing, three man passing it all seemed like it would never end, and being on the court didn't really have any meaning.  At the time I wouldn't have ever thought that the volleyball courts were something serious, just a place to play with friends and horse around.  But, over the years it has become something more than just a silly old court.
                  The volleyball court started to feel like it was my second home.  Every practice I had was now more than just a boring waste of time, it was a time to relax, get things of your mind, play hard and enjoy being on the courts.  I loved going to practice.  Something inside of me just fell in love with the sport all over again, its like I couldn't get enough of the game, and the feeling of being on the court.
                  One real strong memory that I remembered about when I was still learning what being on the court meant was that not everyone had the opportunity to be on a court and still really enjoy every second of it.  Yes, some people may play on courts because they might've played a sport, but does being on the volleyball courts mean anything else to you then just a a simple court?  It was something I had kept asking myself.  Were the volleyball courts something really that special that no one else could've felt so connected to it as you?. . .  And the answer I had told myself.  Yes, yes it was.
                  Just being on the volleyball courts and experiencing everything that I had experienced it all had a huge, huge impact on my athletic life and my personal life.  It had inspired me to continue playing the sport I loved, and to try to make an impact on the people's lives around me.  Thats why the volleyball courts mean so much to me, physically and mentally.

Sensory Detail Paragraph

                  EER! EER! EER! The sound of the alarm burning my ears, making me go deaf.  I knew I was going to be nervous but I didn't think that I was going to be this frightened to start my first day of high school. . . as a freshmen.  My stomach was queasy and it didn't go away with a quick rub.  I just wanted to lie back down and curl up under my blanket, and wait the day out.  But, that all dissapated when I smelt my mom cooking up something delicious.  After I was all fed and the butterfly's calmed down a bit it was time to get ready.  I quickly rushed to the bathroom and closed the door and then locked it, just to be sure no one bothered me.  I washed my face with the ice cold water, as cold as the Arctic water.  Then brushed my teeth for at least five minutes, which left a fresh cool minty taste behind, better than having ten ice breakers mint.
                  I put on my freshest most cleanest t-shirt, khakis and socks and then picked the shoes that matched my outfit the best.  I heard the rumbling of the engine starting up and ran to pick up my bag and dashed for the door, slamming it shut with a rumbling clatter of metal against wood.  I hopped into the warm and cozy car and then headed straight for school.  The ride to school was a blur the only few things that I remember seeing was the bright orange sun peeking over the mountains, and the tall buildings of downtown flying past my car making me feel like I was the pilot of a spaceship.  As I gazed upon the school approaching faster than ever the queasiness returned, but worse than before.  I slowly unlocked and the opened the only barrier that separated me from school.  When I reached the sidewalk that lead to the school, I quickly looked around for someone that I knew.  Right when I made eye contact with the person I knew, all the queasiness and the fright from me weakened because it had loss the battle, and I knew I was going to be just fine.

Namecard (words from the heart)