For many people, volleyball is just a game. But to Weaver FFA member Bailey Hodges from Alabama, it’s life.
Hodges’ volleyball story started at the age of 12. The varsity volleyball coach came to the elementary school toward the end of her sixth-grade year and asked, “Who wants to try out for volleyball?” Her heart instantly raced with excitement. The only feeling she’s ever had to match this was when she saw the pre-agriscience class on her eighth-grade class schedule.
Both of these events shared one big thing in common: She had no idea what was to come. Yet, Hodges stepped into these new opportunities with an open mind and excited attitude.
Hodges’ FFA journey started in seventh grade. Sitting in the cafeteria with her friends, she faced one of the hardest decisions ever: her classes for the next school year. The five girls huddled together and discussed these classes. Then, something on the paper caught their eye: pre-agriscience.
Weaver High School had never offered an agriscience class, so the look of something new was appealing. Hodges and her friends wrote a check beside this new, uncharted territory. They discussed this choice as they walked to volleyball practice. “I don’t know about this guys…agriculture? Do you want to play in mud all day?” one friend said.
Hodges’ mind was made up. She was taking this class with or without her friends.
Flash forward to her first day of school; she sat in Mr. Lett’s agriculture class, ready to take on anything that came her way. As he began to lecture, one thing he said instantly stuck out: Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE). As these words came out of his mouth, so many ideas raced through Hodges’ head, but only one stuck.
“I am going to start a YouTube channel,” she thought. She raised her hand to pitch the idea, and Mr. Lett was all for it. During the next few days, Hodges worked diligently to get this channel started and publish her first video. Within the next week, she officially posted her first-ever YouTube video titled “Weaver FFA Cookout.”
Even today, almost three years later, these videos are still played at Weaver FFA events, and she continues to publish more. Hodges is a representation of going out of your comfort zone to try new things. Who knows? It might be quite rewarding.
