Aaron Gonzalez is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Alhambra High School for AZPreps365.com

Aiko Makayla Contreras played volleyball for the Alhambra Lions this season with a lot on her mind, dealing with the thought of whether she would ever like school again.

Contreras was just a freshman when the COVID-19 pandemic started. It was a situation that took the world by surprise and affected many people in different ways.

“When the pandemic hit, it took a toll on all of us mentally and physically and left us unsure about the season,” Contreras said.

Contreras, along with many other soon-to-be incoming high school students took part in the summer freshmen academy – a program on what to expect transitioning from middle school into high school life.

It was there she met her soon-to-be volleyball coach, AJ Manuel, who had started teaching a year prior in 2018. His first year of coaching came in the 2019 season which would be Contreras' first season playing high school volleyball, an opportunity she was excited about.

“[I’ve] always played volleyball in middle school and it’s something I wanted to continue doing in high school,” Contreras said. “Playing sports motivates me to do better in school, get better grades and be more responsible.”

The transition from in-person learning to remote instruction was difficult for Contreras and others to be more responsible as the pandemic was taking place.

“Waking up, staying in bed all day. We didn't have Zoom until sophomore year,” Contreras said. "Even on Zoom, it was hard. It felt like I wasn't being taught anything. I felt like even the teachers were going through it. It was so hard on both parts. It was hard to be even interested in school during the pandemic. The environment change is what took a toll on my mentality.”

Instead of having after-school volleyball practices, they were held online. The Phoenix Union School District wanted coaches to host virtual workouts with student-athletes.

“[The] Phoenix Union [school district] wanted coaches to meet with athletes at least once a week remotely. Try to get them to do workouts,” Manuel said. "I think that was the year when TikTok blew up. I even made a TikTok workout for the girls, so that they could do it on their own. Phoenix Union tried to keep the athletes connected. Not just coach-to-athlete relationships but athlete-to-athlete relationships.”

Taking part in online workouts left Contreras feeling relieved throughout the pandemic.

“It was relieving to see all the girls' faces,” Contreras said. “To see that they were all still healthy and to see the coaches. It was something that helped us in a way get through the pandemic,  even though it was probably two or three practices. It was so relieving to see everyone together again through Zoom. It felt like we were a family again. We were together again after so long.”

She received an email from the school one day asking whether she would like to continue remote learning or go back to school in person.

“When I first saw the email, I knew I wanted to go back to school,” Contreras said. “There was more to life than just being at home all day and a computer screen. And when I went back to school, that's when I realized things weren't what I expected them to be.

Going back to school, our class schedules were different. That’s what caught me off guard the most. Having to go from 45-minute classes and then coming back to have to sit in classes that are an hour long. Not even learning anything. It felt like I  wasn't getting anything out of it.”

Changes were taking place both in the classroom and on the volleyball court.

“When I came back,  I was looking forward to the [upcoming] volleyball season,” Contreras said. “I was excited!  Now I have something to look forward to. I was no longer a setter, I was now a libero. That felt a little strange to me. Being part of a team with the girls, when we didn't have a team was not what I expected either. But I finished off the volleyball season strong. And that's when my whole mentality started to change.”

Manuel credits Contreras' openness to feedback and her willingness to understand where she can improve.

"Definitely in her first year as a libero last year, it's a tough position,” Manuel said. “You have to read a lot of the court. You're the first line of defense back there. It was tough for her to go into a position that she didn't know but she took it on gratefully. This year, for her to still be a libero, she has grown tenfold.”

Manuel credits Contreras' for her openess to feedback.

“Makayla has always been that girl that will rise to the occasion,” Manuel said. "Even to this day, she is still that girl. You ask her to do something and she will do it. It’s inspiring for sure and she dares to do it. Even though she has gone through her struggles [mentally].

She was amazing her freshman and sophomore years. She went through two years as a setter and learned the game. No, she wasn’t the best skilled but she was the most hard-working and most determined. Translating that now to her senior year, she has played every different  position and she is still the same hard-working and determined player."

Contreras felt like she was carrying the weight of the team on her shoulders as the new season was underway.

“We had such a small team of people to count on. Being a captain was so hard for me to be the stability of the team,” Contreras said. “I had to keep my mind together and keep the team together. It felt like we were not a team. We didn't know each other. We were coming back from the pandemic. There were new girls. It felt like there was this unexplainable tension. We would play and we weren't a team and it showed on and off the court.”

At the end of the season, Contreras stepped away from volleyball to return to remote learning.

“I thought I knew what was best for me, going back online. It took a toll on me,” Contreras said. “I started realizing that being online at the same time wasn't what I wanted. I felt like I couldn't be in the environment to teach myself in a way. And I should've stayed with the people that were supporting me.”

After realizing that remote learning wasn't for her, Contreras decided to return for her senior year to play volleyball.

“I’m not going to miss my senior year,” Contreras said. “I’m not going to push people away as I did before. I’m so happy I came back! Coach Manny is the biggest reason why I came back. Now, I get to share my senior year with him, the girls, and volleyball. He has such a huge impact on me and the rest of the girls. So yeah, I wanted to come back and play volleyball for my senior year.”

The chemistry of the team has changed this season, according to Contreras.

“This year I can say I have a great bond with my team,” Contreras said. “It's incomparable [from freshman to senior year]. I compared it to my sophomore and junior year and there was no team bond.”

For people suffering from mental health issues, Contreras advises relying on people who are trustworthy. 

“That's what I didn't do,” Contreras said. “I dug my head into my own thoughts, instead of talking to people and getting a better understanding. To not bury yourself in negative thoughts because that's what I did and I took the negative route. Stay positive and don’t take the easy way out on things. It won't get you anywhere.”

Contreras is grateful for her teammates, coaches, and the lessons she has learned through sports.

“I know that volleyball was always something I could use to become a better person,” Contreras said. “To become more responsible and more genuine with people. Being a part of a volleyball team or a team in general you have to learn how to talk to people, grow as a person and take constructive criticism. I thank volleyball for that, making me a better person.”