| I felt proud, but nervous because I didn't want to let anyone down |
I woke up early one Sunday morning with butterflies spinning around my stomach like cheese in a cheese churn.
My mind was filled with questions about what would happen today and how would we feel if we won? I got dressed, caught the bus and then the tube as usual. But, this wasn't going to be just any old normal day...just a few hours later I was volleying a ball to my teammate across an in-door volleyball court.
We were representing the whole of London. I felt proud, but nervous because I didn't want to let anyone down.
As the hall filled with teams from different parts of England, most of my nerves were taken over by feelings of excitement. We won the first and second game confidently but we lost the next two due to a few surprise points.
We were relying on the last game. If we lost, that was it - game over and we'd be on our way home! But if we won, victory would be ours. Guess what… we won!
It took a while to sink in but after a week I realised I was part of the 4th best under 16's girls' volleyball team in England.
This showed me that no matter how threatened and anxious you feel, always try your very best. If you beat your nerves, anyone can be winner.
About the team
This story was produced by Ginisha Sadasivan, 14. It was published by Children Now magazine.
