Spring Branch ISD Featured News

A Sea of Pink to Raise Breast Health Awareness

October 8, 2024 8:00 AM

Raising awareness for breast cancer and funding for research is the aim of the Northbrook High School (NHS) volleyball teams as they take on Stratford High School in their annual Pink Out match this week.

The NHS Raiders will wear pink jerseys, a color symbolic of breast cancer awareness, and they encourage fans in the stands to also wear pink to show their support for the cause.

NHS volleyball coach Christopher Kelly expects a sea of pink to fill the gym during the varsity and junior varsity matches—it's a true Pink Out!

Publicity for the Pink Out match states that the athletes aim to support fighters, honor survivors, and celebrate hope.

“It provides an opportunity for every Northbrook volleyball student-athlete to engage in a cause that impacts the greater community,” Kelly said.

An Extra-Special Match

NHS volleyball teammates recognize that the Pink Out match is particularly meaningful as they promote breast health awareness and funding for the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

“Participating in a Pink Out match is important because it raises awareness for breast cancer and for people around the world,” said Heaven Ozan, an 11th-grader on the NHS junior varsity volleyball squad whose grandmother faced a breast cancer diagnosis. “She was one of the strongest people I knew.”

This will not be the first Pink Out event for senior varsity player Chasiti Jenkins. “I found it very heartwarming to see that people care,” she said of her past involvement. “It’s important to play in a Pink Out match because it shows that you’re playing not only for yourself, but also for those who have cancer.”

Early Detection is Key

The NBCF promotes early detection as crucial to improving breast cancer survival rates. When caught in its earlier, localized stages, the five-year relative survival rate is 99 percent. Raising awareness of warning signs is also a goal, and the young women on the NHS volleyball team will carry this knowledge as they mature into adults.

Jenkins is grateful that her grandmother beat breast cancer. “While playing the match, I will be thinking about her and how I’m playing for her,” Jenkins said.

Another NHS junior varsity player, Isabella Bentacur, will think of her aunt. “My aunt Rachel passed away from breast cancer when I was little,” Bentacur said. “What will be going through my mind during this game is that she is still here, watching me, and that she would be proud of what I’ve accomplished and the young lady I’ve become.”

Core Characteristics in Action

Playing on a volleyball team builds the Core Characteristics of a T-2-4 Ready Graduate, a set of traits identified by SBISD and community members as essential for a bright future.

“Participating in this sport and in a Pink Out match helps me develop empathy and self-awareness, one of the six Core Characteristics,” Ozan said. “You never know what someone is going through, so it’s important to always support your team—no matter what.”

Bentacur agrees that empathy and self-awareness are evident in her play. “You have to be aware that some things are your fault,” she said. “You also have to be empathetic and remember that everyone makes mistakes. All you can do is move on to the next play.

“Pink Out is definitely a way to build self-awareness because wearing pink means you’re playing for a cause bigger than yourself.”

Jenkins feels she is developing persistence and adaptability through her participation on the Raiders’ volleyball team. “Even though I’m still learning, I focus on these qualities during the game to improve and move on to the next play,” she said.

Coach Kelly is proud of the progress the NHS volleyball teams have made this year. “Speaking of Core Characteristics, our team has had to be persistent and adaptable this season,” he said. “It took a while to earn our first win, but then we rattled off three home wins in a row heading into district play.”

Improving While Having Fun

NHS team members credit Coach Kelly for helping them develop positive traits and grow athletically by turning mistakes into opportunities for improvement while encouraging the girls to enjoy their time as a team.

Bentacur said the coach has prepared the team for the Pink Out match with the intent to win while demonstrating sportsmanship and character. He instills in his athletes that, win or lose, they should have fun while doing their best.

“My coach has inspired me to give my all and just play for fun,” Jenkins said. “Even though I’ll make mistakes, it doesn’t matter—I just need to move forward.”

Good advice for life!