The document describes a memorable failure the author experienced in high school when trying out for the volleyball team as a freshman. Despite having some previous recreational volleyball experience, the author was unprepared for the competitiveness of high school tryouts. After being cut from the team, the author was devastated but resolved to improve by researching instructional videos and attending camps over the summer. The following year, the author made the volleyball team as a sophomore after putting in a lot of hard work to develop their skills and understanding of the game. The author learned that success requires persevering through failure and applying lessons learned to improve for future opportunities.