Why I do what I do!
It was
1970 something, and on the school announcements I heard, “We will be starting a
girls’ basketball team and tryouts will be next week.” Oh my goodness I could hardly stay in my
seat! Finally after seeing my brother
and other boys competing for school, I would have a chance! I had always played sports with the boys in my
neighborhood as a young girl. I made my
Dad put up a goal in our driveway so I could practice to get better. We lived in California and the boys would
pick players to be, I was Jerry West – a guard for the LA Lakers, nicknamed Mr.
Clutch because of some last second incredible shots and plays.
I
practiced every day up to the tryouts and ended up making the team. I would wear the black and gold and be a Cabrillo
Conquistador. After that they started
softball which was the only sport where I had competed before going to high
school. I ended up making that team
too. Then the following year they added
volleyball. Volleyball was a sport that
I wasn’t too fond of because the only time we played it was when it rained
during PE and there would be about 20 people on a side and you basically just
stood there and rotated. Coach Bittman
was our coach for basketball and softball and she was also going to coach
Volleyball, so I tried out and learned the real game of volleyball which I
loved.
Coach
Bittman was a tough coach who taught us the skills of each game and made sure
that we practiced with diligence and goals.
She taught us to work hard, to always keep our heads up and to always
look like a champion. She taught us that
activity and competition were just as good for girls as they were for
boys. She fought for us so that we could
have the same practice and competition opportunities as boys.
So that’s
how I got to where I am today. I wanted
to be like Coach Bittman! I lived in
California, but because of our residency I would have to choose a college in
Virginia. Coach Bittman helped me to
find the best Physical Education/Coaching program and that is how I ended up at
James Madison University. I played
volleyball for four years there and also did one season of indoor track.
It took
me awhile to get into teaching and coaching, but I kept it as my goal because I
loved sports and I knew it had taught me so much. I stayed with exercise and fitness working in
Cardiac Rehabilitation and at one of the first hospital owned Wellness Centers
before coming to Mary Baldwin College. I
left a fulltime job at the wellness center to take a part time job as Mary
Baldwin’s Volleyball Coach, but I needed to follow my dream. It indeed led to a fulltime position and here
I am starting my 24th year. I
love coaching and fitness and have been able to do many related jobs here at
Mary Baldwin.
So why
do I do what I do?
·
Activity and Sports define who I am
·
Sports and competition teach us life skills
·
I love teaching others how to compete and be
healthy and fit
·
I feel that I have the greatest job on earth – I
get paid to teach others how to play!
