Proud Blonde!

Our sr. girls volleyball team hosted and played in the 1A Girls Volleyball Provincials this past weekend (November 23-25). They played with amazing team spirit and class. The girls played 6 games in total, winning 4 and losing only 2. The girls went undefeated in their pool, finishing first. The biggest rivals in their pool was the team they lost to in J.R.’s Mega Volleyball Tournament, St. Thomas Aquinas from Provost.

The girls played STA at the gym in J.R. on Friday afternoon. We may not have attended that school, but we came out in full force at J.R., skipping the 2 periods after lunch to cheer on our girls. I am so glad we were there, it was the most amazing game ever! It started off great with the very first individual sportsmanship award going to St. Jerome’s own Brittany Partington.

The game began well with our girls staying close with the highly talented STA team, but in the end of the first set our girls just couldn’t handle Lia Stang, the very strong and tall number 8 on STA. She could hit and block very well and eventually led STA to a 25-16 first set win. But our girls wouldn’t give up, and in the end it counted, they got down by a few points in the second set. STA was only a couple points from victory, but our girls didn’t give up, they came back to win the second set 27-25. In the second set our girls served well and were not shy to hit the floor, they played with serious determination and will.

One play I would I like to tell you about was in the second set, when the girls were down to STA by about 8 points. One of the STJ girls had served and a long rally was taking place. One of the setters set up Brittany Partington at power, but it was too far for her to hit. STA assumed they had gotten the point because the ball was so far out of play, but they underestimated the will of STJ. Brittany, at almost a 60 degree angle from the gym floor, cuffed the ball over the net and won STJ the point. All the while STA, who had already started going to the middle to cheer, were stunned as they watched the ball hit the floor on their side of the court.

Then in the third set of volleyball our girls were pumped up from that come back win in the second set, and it showed when they played. The STA team seemed to be down after that same loss and didn’t come out with the same courage and intensity that our girls did. The St. Jerome’s fans at J.R. were ecstatic and cheered unbelievably loud. The STJ girls responded with playing extremely well in the third set and showed serious team spirit and will. They came away with a very well deserved win, 15-11 over the very talented St. Thomas Aquinas from Provost, winning the game in three sets, 2-1.

Some say Remembrance Day is a waste of time, and for a while I believed so, too. When I was younger the ceremonies were very tiring and I was always so bored. No one ever talked and I sometimes saw people crying but had no idea why. My parents told me this was a very important day to remember people who sacrificed greatly for us, but to me it was pointless.

As I grew older and became more informed about Remembrance Day, I began to realize its importance. I realized how much courage and strength of mind those soldiers must have had, waking in the morning and not knowing if they would survive another day. Watching those beside them get injured, or worse, killed. Leaving their loved ones behind and not seeing them for months, years, or ever again.

With modern day games and videos of past wars and battles, I have been able to have a small realization of the horrors and other emotions involved in war. Having to make some decisions but knowing the wrong choice could ruin your life. Some of the soldiers didn’t even know why they were fighting, but wished to serve mankind. Others went mad from stress or a restless mind. Some saw their friends and fellow soldiers risking their lives and some never coming back. I know these games can only give us a glimpse of the horrors of war, so I can only imagine the experiences of the veterans who participated in the real thing.

The massacre of human lives, old and young were lost senselessly. Recently I was shown pictures of boys my age going to war. I find it so hard to believe the boys in my class could go to war, I can only imagine their parents and siblings feelings. Thousands of each generation died in trying to win a battle where everyone looses. Mothers, sisters, and grandmas were left without husbands, brothers, and fathers, through those horrible years. The human population was deprived of great family members, citizens, and friends carelessly and thoughtlessly.

Those people who fearlessly lost their lives for us have given us so much. Today I believe I live in the best country ever. We have a great reputation around the world as kind and friendly. Everyone can voice their opinions on government and other country or worldly matters. We are all given the right to be respected and give respect freely, no matter how rich or poor. These great privileges that we have received would not have been possible without our courageous and loving soldiers.

I now realize the importance of Remembrance Day and thank God for all those who lovingly sacrificed themselves for the freedom we have today. People who have died did not deserve it, no matter what nationality, what side they fought for, or why they were there. No longer is November 11 just another day, it is a day for sadness and joy, love and regret, respect and honor.