After four years of relentless practices, workouts, games, camps, film sessions, picture days and more, my tenure as a member of the West Forsyth volleyball team is coming to a close. Wednesday, when we take on Southwestern Randolph, is senior night. For the last three years, I’ve been on the opposite side of senior night, taking part in the secret meetings to discuss the festivities and excitedly finding out which senior I was assigned to. Now, I’m the one who has to leave, and looking back, I can’t help but feel like it all rushed by me in the blink of an eye.

In the past each senior has gotten a giant poster with their name painted on it, a portrait, some of their favorite snacks and some trinkets; however, this varies year to year based on the number of students graduating. With seven seniors this season, one can expect to see the bleachers loaded down in decorations, put in place by the underclassmen. Before the game, each senior will be ushered out onto the court by their parents and shake the hands of school officials like the principal, the athletic director and of course, the coaches. A short description is given about the student athlete’s favorite volleyball memories and her plans after college. Then, once all is completed, the game will begin just like any other night.

Before I leave, I have to issue a massive thank you to my coach, Lauren Gillon, who has helped me become the woman I am today. She has taught me core values that will stay with me forever, such as respect, discipline and mindfulness, as well as how to work together with others and place the team before myself. I am forever grateful for all that she did for me and my teammates over the last four years, and I genuinely don’t know where I would be today if I didn’t have volleyball, so thank you. While I’m ready to move onto the next chapter of my life, the end of my career as a volleyball player at West Forsyth is most definitely a bittersweet one.