Off the Court with Kaitlin Kozak

Thursday, December 1

Last Wednesday and Friday were my final two matches of my career.  They went faster than I ever imagined and it was difficult to accept and believe the experience was over.  The last four years have been filled with overwhelming emotions of joy, excitement, frustration, disappointment, laughter, and, most importantly, passion and heart.  Volleyball truly has encompassed my entire life and collegiate experience here at the <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>University of Miami.  <?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

I can remember freshman year like it was yesterday.  The transition from a small town in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania to Miami, Florida was, in itself, difficult to make.  Even more life challenging were the relationships being developed and a new team of which to be a part.    It was both an exciting as well as an overwhelming time in my life.  I remember saying to myself after the first few weeks of practices, “I’m not going to make it through four years of this.”  Well, its four years later and I have not only made it, but it has been an incredible journey filled with unforgettable accomplishments, events, and lifelong memories. 

When I think about the journey, not just one thing comes to mind; rather, I recollect both positive and negative events, feelings, and experiences.  The part of volleyball I most disliked was waking up at the crack of dawn to lift weights.  I think it was my sophomore year that weights were at 5:45 in the morning.  It’s one thing to wake up for something that is enjoyable, but weights for me were miserable.   Other than early morning workouts, the other component of volleyball that I disliked was the fact that we missed countless classes, exams, and sporting events on the campus.  Although I enjoyed road trips, stress and anxiety often arose from missing so much school; it was difficult to keep up with everything.

The positives to the experiences are those that will be a part of my memory forever. Those are the things that have made it so very difficult to say good bye to.   All the time, energy, and emotion involved were not experienced alone; rather, I practiced, competed, and even spent days together with my teammates.  The highs and lows, the wins and losses, and the goals set and accomplished are shared with each other.    Each person on my team was fun and unique, and each relationship developed has been different but meaningful. I love my entire team, and it is one part of the experience I will greatly miss.

Volleyball has always been an important and enjoyable part of my life. Although I know it will continue to be a part of my life whether it’s playing recreationally or coaching my own team,  it’s difficult  to believe  that  I won’t ever compete at this level again.  Matches add to excitement, thrill, and competitiveness of the sport.  It is why we dedicate so much time and energy to practicing.  The sport itself won’t ever be quite the same.

I will always remember road trips, airports, bus rides, free meals, schools, campuses, gymnasiums, exciting wins, and disappointing loses.  My volleyball career here as well as my overall experience at the University of Miami has been a great challenge for me.  From what I’ve learned on and off the court, I will use to my advantage to overcome unforeseen obstacles and achieve future success.