Q&A with First Assembly Christian School volleyball player Emily Bowden
OCALA, Fla. — A Q&A with Emily Bowden who is a volleyball player at First Assembly Christian School.
Name: Emily Bowden
Age: 17
Sport: Volleyball
Sports participated in: softball, cheer, gymnastics
Years in current sport: 5 years (since 7th)
Team: Eagles
School: First Assembly Christian School
Grade: 12th
What are your personal goals within your sport/athletic dreams?
Emily Bowden: To get better and better each day.
What is your biggest challenge in your sport, and what do you do to manage this challenge?
Bowden: My biggest challenge is probably self-motivation. When I mess up on something, or I’m not doing good during certain drills, I tend to get upset with myself because I know I can do better. I manage this challenge by telling myself, “I got this, and I can do better.” I also really try hard not to get upset with myself because I do not want to have an attitude on the court, nor do I want to bring my teammates down due to my poor attitude.
What was the best advice you were ever given?
Bowden: “What happens off the court does not get brought on the court” and “Always have fun”
What do you love about your sport?
Bowden: I love the competitiveness and the team building.
Do you have a pregame ritual you follow?
Bowden: I pray. Not to win, but to have fun, keep a good attitude, and be happy with the outcome no matter what it is.
What do you like to do outside of your sport?
Bowden: Hang out with friends, workout, and participate in my church activities along with attending church.
What has being a team member of a team taught you?
Bowden: No matter how good you are, your attitude is everything. Always be encouraging and have patience.
What is the best piece of advice you received from a coach or a mentor?
Bowden: You can always get better at something that you’re good at.
Describe a mistake you made while competing and how you overcame it?
Bowden: One mistake that happens often in the game of volleyball is lack of communication. There’s been multiple times where one of my teammates and I will both go for the ball, but neither of us calls it, so we assume that one or the other is getting it and the ball ends up dropping. I overcome this by simply talking to my teammate and letting her know that we have to communicate and then I encourage her while we move onto our next play.
This is an unedited user writing submission. The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Best Version Media or its employees.