I stood ready as the opposing team served the volleyball. It came right toward me. Charging forward, I determined to get it back over the net and hopefully score for the team. But the excitement of the moment threw off my perception, and I tapped the ball too lightly.

With that, it seemed to slowly descend to the ground. I had lost a point for my team.

Even though someone can put their all into an activity, mistakes are bound to happen. What I have learned at camp is that pushing past these mistakes allows you to continue to move forward more effectively.

I admit this was not always the case for me during previous years of AYC. Back then, I did not fully participate because I assumed that no matter how hard I tried, I would inevitably lose. I was worried about being embarrassed and allowed my insecurities to be an excuse to not help my team.

This year at AYC, I determined to give every activity my all. As a result, I learned important principles on how to push through failure on the road to success.

The first Monday of AYC 2016, we journeyed to a sports complex for an eventful day of volleyball. This activity allowed me to put my goal into practice.

Upon stretching and becoming acquainted with various volleyball skills, such as bumping, setting and serving, teams of equal ability were chosen.

Yet the most challenging part was ahead.

Once, when it was my turn to serve, I determined to clear the ball over the net. But my determination was not enough.

After a comical-looking serve, I remembered a suggestion a staffer gave me. By remembering her specific directions, I was able to see where I went wrong and correct my mistake.

This principle helped me greatly. If I bumped the ball out of bounds, I would mentally revisit where I went wrong and correct how I did it.

Later, when bumping the ball on a similar play, I reminded myself of what I needed to do. Additionally, when another teammate gave me advice, I listened to her suggestions and moved on, instead of feeling embarrassed.

This was much different from how I responded in previous years when I felt extremely ashamed. Back then, I would have attributed my lack of coordination to a personal failure.

Although apologetic to my teammates, I determined to not allow a minor slip to steal my focus. Instead, I turned my full attention to winning the game.

I also applied this mindset to other activities.

During soccer, I accidently passed the ball to the other team. I realized my error, but let it go and moved forward.

Instances like this taught me to not dwell on my mistakes. By letting them go, I was able to live in the moment and not let past errors make me feel less determined. I learned that when you remember the instruction given and allow yourself to put mistakes out of your mind, you are able to build more skill and confidence over time.

Whitewater rafting was a good example of this. The skills of those in my boat started off “rocky.” We went bumpily over rocks, ran into rocks, got stuck on rocks…so many rocks!

But throughout the day, we grew as a team. Soon, we were heading down raging rapids, correctly maneuvering the foamy waters.

How well does pushing past your mistakes work? To start, our raft was far behind the rest of the pack. Yet, by the end of the day, it was near the front of the others.

When I return home from camp, I will view growth in a different manner. From each mistake, I will gain experience, inevitably making me a more well-rounded athlete.

This concept can be applied to other areas of life as well: from choosing the incorrect answer on a test to playing the wrong note during a piano recital. When such things happen, I will remember what my teachers and instructors told me and will not allow mistakes to limit my potential. I will also grow by never stopping, but instead moving forward.

The confidence I learned at AYC will help me in every area of my life. I am determined to not allow my mistakes to define me. As a famous saying goes, “It’s not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game.”