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Beth Shelton is a fifth-year on Virginia’s volleyball team this season. A Cincinnati, Ohio native, Shelton will be playing in the final game of her collegiate career on Friday when the Cavaliers host Virginia Tech in the season finale. Match time is slated for 6 p.m. in Memorial Gymnasium.
Question: What’s one of the greatest things you’ve learned from your teammates here at Virginia?
Shelton: I’ve learned that happiness is in friendships. No matter what’s happening or where you’re going, you need friends. Also, to have a friend, you need to be a friend.
Question: What’s the greatest life skill you’ve learned from playing collegiate volleyball?
Shelton: I’d have to say time management or self-sacrifice. Having practices for four hours everyday forces you to prioritize and be efficient. Sometimes playing a collegiate sport, you don’t always get to do everything you want, but it’s a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things. You can’t have what you want when you want it all the time. That’s life.
I’ve also come to realize that getting where you want to be is about discipline and choice. Life is choices. Be disciplined enough and strong enough to pick the right choices and you’ll be rewarded.
Question: You’ve had several road trips with the team, what trips have been your favorites?
Shelton: I always enjoy road trips. Some of my favorite memories took place on a bus, so it’s hard to pick just one trip. You definitely learn a lot about people when you’re trapped on a bus for an eight-hour ride to Atlanta.
Question: How would you describe your five years at Virginia?
Shelton: A roller coaster ride comes to mind. There have been some high times in my five years, but there have also been some low times. I can say though, only because I’m older now, that I’m glad it’s been this way. I’ve learned happiness in the highs and I’ve built my character in the lows. A coach of mine once told me that you must have the bad days to appreciate the good days. At the time I didn’t know what that meant, but I know now. If being a student-athlete were easy, everyone would do it. I like that not everyone can do it.
Question: Does it seem like the time has flown by? What are some of your favorite memories and what will you miss?
Shelton: Time has absolutely flown by! I used to hate when people would say to me “Enjoy these times, because they go by so fast.” Now, I’m saying it to people. I really can’t believe my time here is almost over and that this chapter in my life is about to end. I can say I’ve honestly never thought about these times ending because they have been so great. I have never wanted them to end. I’m going to miss being with the girls the most, though. They are the ones who make the experience and the memories. I only hope to find a group like them in the next chapter of my life.
Question: Looking back, what advice would you leave for the underclassmen and incoming first-years?
Shelton: I’d tell them that the road gets rough, but that you’ll always make it through. There will be the days when there’s no light at the end of the tunnel, but those days only make you stronger. You’ll be dealt an ugly hand from time to time but you’ll find a way. Remember. Nothing worth winning ever comes without a fight. Oh yeah, and take a lot of pictures.
Question: What are your plans for next semester? Next year?
Shelton: I’m hoping to finish up my master in the spring. I’ll be pretty focused on that and finding a job. I don’t know what next year holds for me, other than I think I’m going to move back to the mid-west.