When 14-year old Amy Dean moved schools and came to the AAHS for the first time this year, volleyball was the first thing to catch her attention. She wanted to try one of the sports she loved the most at a new school while creating friendships along the way. 

Amy has been interested in volleyball since she was very young, and it is something that has always caught her focus and attention.

“When I was in second grade I joined volleyball because I thought it was very easy and a fun sport to play. I didn’t play volleyball for a few years after that because we didn’t have enough players. Then, when I was in seventh grade they opened the team back up, so I’ve played since then. Volleyball is a team sport, and it takes up a lot of your time. Me and my brother are very driven into sports, so that’s what got me into playing volleyball,” Dean said.”

After arriving in Altoona, it took Amy time to adjust. She had to not only get used to a hearing school, but try to meet new friends to help her along the way. Many of the teammates she bonded with throughout the way helped her with things she may have had questions about during the season. 

“I was really nervous because I didn’t know anyone here, and it was also my first time in a hearing school, so I wasn’t sure how things were here. In the end, they were all really nice to me, and I have gotten a lot of help from my teammates.Sometimes when I didn’t understand the rotations or what the coach was saying or what we were supposed to do, I’d ask one of them and they would help me,” Dean said. 

Volleyball is something that has had a huge impact on Amy, and she definitely puts all of her effort into it. Even though she had to move to a completely different state, try an all hearing school for the first time, and get involved in a high school sport that not everyone can make, she encourages everyone to just do what they do and try their best. Amy gave great advice for those who may be following in similar footsteps.

 “I couldn’t see myself not playing this sport. Volleyball is a team sport, and I express my feelings towards the ball when I’m serving or playing. It’s a sport I’ve known about since I saw my brother’s friend play. Just because you don’t know anyone doesn’t mean you can’t step outside of your comfort zone. There will be times where you get into this situation. Just go out there and be determined to play that sport or meet new friends,” Dean said.

Although Dean devotes much of her time to volleyball she is still dedicated to her academics and has joined the school’s newspaper and yearbook staffs as the only freshman.