Writing piece
Ms. Medori
“Ok, get in here. I see you are all in here for volleyball tryouts.” This was the first day I laid eyes on what would soon be the best coach I have ever had. I didn’t know it then, but I do now. The first time I met her, she was a little intimidating, but soon after I found out that I made the volleyball team. That changed everything. Yes, it did take a little time to warm up to her because I was a shy sixth grader at the time, but I would do anything to have those moments back where I could spend time with her practicing volleyball.
Sixth grade passed, and it was the beginning of the seventh grade year. My second year was amazing! I had broken out of my shell, and Ms. Medori had a lot to do with it. Every time I would miss a ball or get mad at myself for messing up, she would always tell me how to correct my mistakes and tell me to try again. “Come on J-ROLL,” she used to say because I would wear a Jimmy Rollins baseball t-shirt. I felt so comfortable around her because she was sarcastic and nice at the same time. She knew when we needed to be serious and when to be goofy. I know her job was tough because she always used to say, “I need to dye my hair tonight because I have too many greys from all this stress,” but she would never give up on us. I appreciated that because when our assistant coach got frustrated and gave up on us, Ms. Medori always stuck with us and kept coaching. If I was having a bad day, she was always there to cheer me up. We had our own little inside jokes, which made volleyball even more fun. I also liked that she would always come straight out with whatever she needed to say.
Even though seventh grade was a great year, eighth grade was the icing on the cake! That was the year Ms. Medori and I became really close. I was one of the oldest players on the team now I had been playing there for three years. I was voted Captain, and I felt I had a great responsibility given to me because of Ms. Medori. As the year went on, my co-Captain was kicked off the team. Ms. Medori was there for me and the other girls during this tough time. We had a meeting to talk about the circumstances that lead to our teammate getting kicked off, and mostly all the girls cried. You could tell Ms. Medori wanted to stay strong for us. She was always there when I needed someone to talk to. Sometimes I can still hear her say, “Well, you know where my office is if you need me.” And she really was always there. Every day she would be by the girls’ bathroom door in the morning, and I would never hesitate to go over there to talk to her. I would always tell her what I did the night before, and she would always smile and listen and tell me things too. I could tell her anything, from middle school drama, or about boys at school, or just simple things like what I had for dinner. She was the best role model I had ever had.
The end of the season was terrible because we all knew that was our last year as eighth graders. After volleyball season, I would still talk to her every day like nothing ever changed. Then when the year was over, I knew I wouldn’t be seeing her as much. I started my freshman year of high school playing volleyball, but it wasn’t the same. My high school volleyball season was still going on, and one day I looked out in the crowd and I saw Ms. Medori! I was so excited! I couldn’t believe she had taken the time to make it to my game, and it was the best feeling ever. I couldn’t believe it. That is a true example of a coach who was loyal and compassionate about seeing one of her players succeed. She is so nice and outgoing, and it was unbelievably amazing when I saw her.

This is why I look up to Ms. Medori in so many ways. I felt like she was more like a cousin, rather than a coach. She is always so reliable and was always comforting when we needed her to be. No matter what, I could count on her during volleyball or in school. This is why I am nominating her for Educator of the year Award. She has inspired me to be a better volleyball player, and person. She pushed me through the tough games and the tough days at school. She had a way of adding a little humor to things, and she is a great person all around. If you asked any of the other volleyball girls, they would say the same thing. She made my three years of middle school volleyball the best years ever. I wish everyone had the opportunity to meet her so they could see exactly what I mean. I wish she knew just how much she means to me, and how often I think of her when I’m having a bad day in high school, and how thinking of something she said can still make me laugh still. Honestly, I can’t think of a better person to nominate for the educator of the Year.