By Suri Mowji, 8th Grade
For our December workshop, we hosted Katie Holloway, a three-time Paralympian and Gold Medalist in Sitting Volleyball, at the Riekes Center. Katie was born with a condition that required her leg to be amputated at a young age. While learning to live with a disability was a challenge for Katie, she found comfort and strength in playing sports. Prior to going to the Paralympics, Katie played NCAA Division 1 basketball for CSU Northridge. There, Katie learned ways to challenge herself and grow into a confident trooper. Katie talked about the bullying she faced at school, experiences as an athlete, and the role that confidence played in learning to love herself.
During the workshop, Katie led an activity where she taught the girls how to play sitting volleyball. The girls started with warm-ups that taught them how to move on the court and pass the ball, followed by two short games. The sport is not too different from the more common version of volleyball. The same rules apply, however one must sit throughout the duration of the game.
Here are the 3 takeaways from Katie’s talk:
“Wins and losses come every day, but coming back and starting over or using them as opportunities to learn is what matters most.”
“Confidence is all about feeling good about who you are and embracing yourself.”
“If you are able to love yourself and who you are as a person, you have the confidence to know that you are doing the right thing.”