From June 2024 to March 2025, I participated in volleyball and frisbee as part of my Opt-Out PS. These weekly sessions helped me stay active, refresh my mind, and balance my academic workload. Playing two different sports throughout the year gave me a deeper understanding of my physical strengths while also pushing me to develop new skills.

LO1: Identifying Strengths and Areas for Growth

Participating regularly in volleyball and frisbee helped me recognize strengths that I was not always aware of. In volleyball, I realized that I have strong reflexes and decent hand–eye coordination, which helped me in receiving serves and reacting quickly during fast-paced plays. Frisbee required precision, timing, and agility, and I gradually became more confident in making accurate throws and adjusting my technique. These improvements made me feel more aware of the skills I naturally possessed and how they could be built upon with consistent practice.

At the same time, this experience clearly showed me where I needed to grow. I struggled with consistency, especially while serving in volleyball or throwing long-distance passes in frisbee. There were also moments where a lack of stamina affected my performance during longer rallies or continuous play. Over the months, I worked on being more patient, practicing with intention, and focusing on steady improvement rather than expecting instant results. This helped me understand that growth in sports happens slowly, through discipline and a willingness to learn from mistakes.

LO5: Demonstrating Skills and Benefits of Working Collaboratively

Both volleyball and frisbee are team based sports, and these sessions taught me how important communication and teamwork are. In volleyball, coordinating with teammates, calling out the ball, setting up plays, or covering different positions, helped me develop clarity in communication and trust in my team. In frisbee, successful plays depended on quick decision-making and anticipating each other’s movements, which pushed me to be more aware, supportive, and cooperative on the field.

Working together over several months also strengthened the bond within our group. Even when mistakes happened or a game did not go well, we encouraged each other and stayed positive, which kept everyone motivated. We gradually became familiar with each other’s strengths and playing styles, which made our teamwork smoother and more enjoyable. These experiences taught me that collaboration is not just about performing well together, but also about creating a supportive environment where everyone can grow and do their best.

Overall, my Opt-Out PS experience helped me grow both physically and personally. This experience reminded me how important it is to maintain a healthy lifestyle and participate in activities that refresh the mind and body. The lessons I learned from volleyball and frisbee will stay with me beyond this program, helping me approach future challenges with confidence, teamwork, and discipline.