For over 125 years, volleyball has been played by both girls and boys worldwide. Volleyball became an Olympic sport in 1964 and is one of the leading sports played by high school girls. For freshman Callie Walker, her volleyball journey began recently. It all started when her middle school best friend convinced her to try out for the sport. “I started in sixth grade during the summer, and then it just kind of grew from there,” Walker said. Her curiosity and desire to find a sport she truly enjoyed led to numerous experiences in various volleyball environments. “I started out with club indoor volleyball, and when I went to middle school, I joined the indoor volleyball school team,” Walker said. “After two years, I joined beach volleyball for like, six months.” After Walker's experiences with both types of volleyball, she prefers the team dynamic of beach volleyball over indoor. “I think I like beach volleyball better, because when you work with one partner, it kind of gives you an opportunity to see how they work, and then you can build off of each other and make each other stronger as players,” Walker said. During her time playing beach volleyball, Walker had many great memories, but one in particular changed her perspective towards the sport and herself. “I remember one time my friend and I signed up for this tournament, and we didn’t realize how advanced the players were,” Walker said. “We started playing, and we were getting crushed, we lost every single game, but I think that it taught me a lesson to accept that I’m not always going to win.” After spending four years playing indoor and beach volleyball, Walker learned an important fact. She believes that volleyball is not just a sport, but a helpful tool. “I think that outside of school, I needed to have something that I could use as an outlet, because if I didn’t, I would just get really stressed,” Walker said. After realizing just how beneficial volleyball is, Walker’s journey does not stop here. She plans to advance her skills and seek new volleyball opportunities in the future. “I actually plan on joining the school beach volleyball team this spring,” Walker said. Walker may have joined the volleyball world as of recently, but it has shaped her into the person she is today. Volleyball has been a crucial part of Walker’s life, and she will continue to pursue the sport.