The process of being named a captain or president places you in a position of leadership. It comes with responsibilities and a newfound sense of respect. Here at Anderson High School, we have some outstanding organizations with driven and dedicated students at the forefront, but what does it actually look like to balance being a successful student, athlete, and leader everyday? Let’s take a look at our volleyball team captains.
Anderson’s volleyball team strives to be a united front, a responsibility carried by its senior captains Izzy Orozco, Kate Leakey, Bailey Santos, and Brooklyn Vazquez. According to Orozco, one of the major responsibilities of being a volleyball captain is “communication with the coaches.” She specifically highlights that, “since it’s such a large team it’s difficult for everyone to voice their opinions”. That leaves the captains to speak with their coaches and advocate for their teammates whenever possible, as well as form a larger bond between the coaches and their peers. Alongside morning and afternoon practices, these extra responsibilities require the girls to strengthen their leadership skills in order to balance their workload as a well-rounded student and leader of an organization.
To be chosen for a position of leadership, one must showcase the right traits on and off the court. The four girls highlighted the fact that the team operates as a democracy, voting in new captains each year, but not without the girls proving their capabilities leading up to the voting. Santos explains that “how you act on the court, how talkative you are, your confidence, and the input you have” are all things that can affect your likelihood to be a captain.
Beyond being effective leaders, it is especially important for the team to be a united front, bonding and advocating for each other. These are skills that all the girls can take into their adult lives after graduating. When asked how they would utilize the things they have learned in Anderson Athletics when they enter the real world, both Orozco and Santos enunciated the skills of communication and time-management, both vital in being a great leader. All in all, after stepping into their lives for a bit, it’s easy to see that our volleyball team is in great hands with the 25-26 captains and we can’t wait to see how their season unfolds!
