7. Sophia speaks her mind: Sports

Sophia is a Year 3 Nutrition Science student from Monash University. She is a sports enthusiast and a foodie. If you can’t seem to find her, try the gym, pool or sports hall. (Head to the Gallery to meet her!)

Alison: Hi, Sophia! Can you please introduce yourself?

Sophia: Hi! I am a Year 3 student, studying Nutrition Science in Monash University, Australia. As a nutrition science student, it is hard not to love food. I love dessert, so hit me up if you do, too! Please ignore the fact that I study “nutrition”, portion size is key, my friend.

Alison: We must find time to grab dessert. Other than being a sweet tooth, how would you desribe yourself?

Sophie: I would describe myself as a sports enthusiast since I just love all kinds of sports, ranging from track and field to ball games. But I have to choose, my favourite is definitely volleyball.

Alison: Same here. Well, we used to play together, so I probably know what you are about to share. Regardless, can you tell everyone else when you started playing volleyball and how you learned to love the sport?

Sophia: I first came in contact with volleyball when I was in Primary 4 and I immediately felt in love with it. Strictly speaking, it was a love-hate situation. Since the volleyballs at school were made with super tough leather, it gave my forearm quite some bruises. After years of hard work, I was chosen to be the captain of my school team. My ambition started to increase from there. Since there were not a lot of students who played volleyball in high school, my school did not focus much on volleyball development. I felt devastated and lost. Fortunately, my best-friend-slash-non-biological-sister, i.e. you, is – or are – also a volleyball lover. We would train every day by ourselves, before school assembly and during recess and sometimes at lunchtime. My desire to play competitively grew stronger and now I play for my university volleyball team and I hope to continue to improve my tactics.

Alison: Those were the times. I wish I hadn’t stopped playing but I’m proud that you’re still doing it and getting even better at it. You must be so good now!

Sophia: Haha, my story made me seem like I am a very good player, but I am just passionate about volleyball. Generally, I am pretty active and passionate about almost all types of sports. I was also a part of the athletic and swimming teams in my high school, and I hike occasionally.

Alison: Is there anything you would like to share about yourself before we dive into the topic?

Sophia: Well, I love animals and I am a dog person. Unfortunately, I do not own any pets at home since my parents always say, and I quote, “We already have 3 dinosaurs [me and my brothers] at home, we do not need more.” But I would love to adopt some pets in the future when I move out and get my own home.

Alison: Do get some dogs, I’ll be motivated to visit then. Moving on, how often do you exercise?

Sophia: I go to gym every night and have volleyball training twice per week.

Alison: Hm, very active. How long have you been playing sports?

Sophia: I have been playing sports since I was six… So, roughly fourteen years. I used to swim a lot when I was younger. 

Alison: What do you love about sports?

Sophia: Sports is my comfort zone, where I can freely express myself and make new friends. Sports, especially team sports, helps me break out of introversion. It enables me to engage with others who share the same interest. Also, sports is a great way to destress. Whenever I get upset or annoyed, I overcome the negativity by going for a swim, a jog or even a volleyball session. I always feel better after and more motivated to continue with my studies and daily errands. Sports really is a mood and confidence booster.

Alison: If you could play only one sport for the rest of your life, which one would you pick and why?

Sophia: Definitely volleyball. Volleyball is a team sport that requires you to communicate well with your teammates in order to win or just generally to have a good game. There are different roles, e.g. setter, outside, middle, opposite, libero. Assuming different roles and mastering them should probably take years, so I think I made a good choice. Also, there is a multitude of tactics, like setting a quick A, a meter ball, back setting, setting a “6”… the list goes on. I just love the variations, you won’t get bored! Apart from the different roles, serving is also an important skill to master. You can do a flat serve, a jump serve, a short serve… 

Since volleyball is a team sports, you can make lots of new friends and just have fun with your teammates. I honestly think the friends that you meet in team sports tend to be more chill and friendly than those you meet in class. 

Alison: Do you have any tips for people who play sports and people who don’t?

Sophia: I’m no professional, but in general, you definitely need to take good care of yourself when you play sports and be responsible. For example, if you sprain an ankle in the middle of the game, please stop playing and carry out the appropriate measures. From my recent experience, I tore three ligaments in my ankle as I ignored a sprain. I couldn’t walk for days and underwent a lot of rehabilitation exercises to recover. I had to stop all volleyball practice sessions. IT WAS PATHETIC. SO, please don’t make the same mistake.

More importantly, always show good sportsmanship. Sports is not just about winning or losing. Try to enjoy the process and respect other players and the game itself.

Finally, to people that play sports: continue to do what you love. To people that don’t: start with something small and don’t be shy. Don’t aim to master a skill in a day. Just chillax and have fun.

Alison: Great, thank you for the advice!