On the 25th of February, Matthew Li delivered an assembly speech in front of the entire 11th grade about the school volleyball team. In the presentation, Matthew detailed many aspects of the sport, including the current team’s history and how they all got introduced to volleyball. The story was enlightening and moving, as the volleyball team had become a very tightly knit group of friends for each and every one of the members. The team embodied the spirit of team sports, showcasing their mutual support and care for each other as well as the sport of volleyball.

Matthew also helped spread awareness of volleyball by discussing interesting elements of the sport, which allowed the student body to better understand the sport. As one of China’s paramount sports, volleyball has taken an increasingly important role in the Chinese sporting community. Matthew also added elements of comedy into his presentation, giving his speech in a simultaneously educational and funny manner. This helped engage the student audience, as laughter resonated through the Xxianmian Annex as Matthew continued on with his speech.

This unique opportunity allowed the beauty of sports and athletics to seep through the hardworking 11th-grade audience, acting as a reminder to continue to exercise and develop themselves holistically. It emphasized the joy that accompanies participating in athletic activities, as Matthew’s own enthusiasm for volleyball passed on to the rest of the audience.

Matthew ended his speech with his contact information, so students could reach out to him if they wanted to join or learn more about volleyball. As the new semester kicks off, it is important for students to remember that maintaining their physical health is just as important, if not more important, than their grades. Matthew’s speech about volleyball embodies this concept, and acts as an enjoyable gateway into the new semester, as this semester’s first assembly speaker.

(Written by 11(3) Mike Chen Pictures by Luyi Liu Supervised by Menglei Wang Reviewed by Qian Zuo)