Kenrick — A Conversation with Kenrick Mark Coleman Features Daril Avila
The Kenrick Mark Coleman Foundation
Kenrick — A Conversation with Kenrick Mark Coleman Features Daril Avila
1. Tell us a little about yourself.
The baby of two vibrant boys, born to Darius and Lisa Avila in the new capital, I’m please to impart a little about myself. My name is Daril Darius Avila, a twenty- year old undergraduate student, pursuing my studies in the field of Natural Resource Management at the University of Belize. I was reared for majority of my life to current in the southernmost part of the country, Punta Gorda, the land famous for its rice harvest and now, athletic scholars. All the recollection of my childhood shows my love and interest for any sport, as I would always be found on the court, joining in a casual game of fun. This had only shifted when I was introduced to my now passion, volleyball, at the tender age of thirteen. For that, I’ll always be grateful to my companion and brother in nature, Evir Aranda for assisting me in my talent search, and encouraging me to sculpt what I now hold so dearly.
2. You are a very dedicated and vibrant Volleyball Player. What do you believe is important in your role?
As part of any team, I’ve come to learn that playing this particular sport, is more than being able to serve the ball across. It has a lot to do with team effort as such interdependence allows for the strength of each individual to become more of the group’s. With this in mind, I attend all games with the knowing that my primary role is to impart a sense of calmness and simultaneous intensity. I say this confidently for the fact that I view myself as the un-appointed leader of the team that is able to stand the ground and allow my teammates to feed off my energy. More so, being able to maintain the necessary level of focus that can be shared on both an individual and team basis.
3. Tell us more about your involvement in Volleyball? Can you share a little history of your participation in this sporting discipline (growing up as a young man)? What’s the most demanding obstacle? Do you believe sports in Belize can be on the next level?
The birth of my sporting career came seven years ago in 2011, as I started off as simply training and playing along with a combination of expert and novice volleyball players. Within that same year, I was privileged in being present at what was my first international tournament, representing Belize at the Codicador Games for volleyball. In the same year, we won our secondary school National volleyball championship, one of my first volleyball accomplishment. The two year anniversary of my career would then be my biggest “eye-opener” and innate sense of motivation, as I was selected to be a part of Belize’s First Youth Selection team from a number of the upcoming athletes in Punta Gorda for the Central American under 19 volleyball championship held in El Salvador. Also, at the age of thirteen, it was at that point, I added to my list of “tips and tricks” in assisting with my volleyball life. Due to hard work and dedication over the summer break, I was honoured in ranking in top five for best scorer, digger, receiver and spiker. Indeed, the launching of my career was enough to keep me going as it enlighten my vision in knowing that within me there is the ability to excel in the game, and most importantly, the sport. I’ve represented my beloved country in many other tournaments, which were being selected for the men’ senior team at a very young age, a considered privilege. Also representing Belize in the under 23 championship games as well as the junior championship Central American under 21 games. It had all been a dream of mine and now a living reality of which I look at the experiences of playing.
When it comes to playing, the most demanding obstacle is keeping my composure at times in games. Volleyball is undoubtedly very intense, and as such, composure is enough for me to maintain being focus in the game and carrying forward of what it is that I work hard towards. In moving forward, with sports to be on another level for Belize, an athlete must stay committed and true to himself with the goals that he wish to accomplish. Among all the sports played in Belize, there is the need for every single athlete to putting in the extra hours in making the goal tangible. Personally, being a good volleyball player within the country, wasn’t an overnight gift. This came from seven years of hard work and dedication towards the sport combined with never losing sight of what it is that I wanted to do.
4. Your reputation in volleyball speaks volumes. What are some of your greatest accomplishments in this sport?
Throughout my career, there has been countless times when I would pause for a moment and ponder on my journey in knowing that effort, dedication, and talent brought me forward. Honestly speaking, I have had many accomplishments in the sport by winning both nationals and district championships. Also in playing a part of the high level competition in Belize for the Division One season and playing for my institution which is the University of Belize. All of these are in the arena of my accomplishments. Yet, it has not been the greatest of all. The greatest is still pending for which I’m here committed and determined towards reaching said goal. As with any other athlete that plays hard for the country, I hold to bringing home a gold medal. The future is uncertain but I hold faith in knowing that something good is to come from all the late nights of training.
5. What are the challenges you had over the years? Opportunities?
For the saying “nothing good comes easy”, has been a resonating quote in the days of my volleyball life. For the challenges of being a volleyball player has come with me juggling other responsibilities and trying to be both physically and mentally consistent in my commitment to the sport as well as playing my best at every chance. I’ve learnt that the sport is more of a mental game, as I’ve been challenge on several occasion to be more productive towards my team in winning games and keeping everyone happy. At times, I’ve fallen short to expectations as I practice low emotional intelligence and undoubtedly, disrupt my team from the goal of the game. Besides that, I was a part of the Central American Senior Team at the age of sixteen, aspiring to become the leader of said team. In 2017, I was able to play along with Jaguars where I received my first division one title as the team and I came out victorious.
Opportunities? I’ve had the chance to travel to Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Panama with the national team for various different tournaments. As a kid of Punta Gorda it has only been a dream to travel out of the country and represent Belize on the highest level in Central America. I believe that in the near future, other opportunities will come to me, but for now I will keep on working with what I have until it is time to move forward.
6. Can you share your experiences preparing, playing and celebrating with the Volleyball Teams you signed with?
In preparing, I acknowledge the “high-five” to my warm up for games. Internally, I ensure that I have awareness of my goals for the game, and even for my overall performance, along with keeping a stable sense of team spirit, emotional intelligence and motivation. This of course is manifested by my belief in self, as it is marked as the first step towards success. Thereafter, I ensure that I eat right, for the most part, as a sound mind is nourished from a balanced diet. In playing, I ensure that I don’t take myself too seriously, as I acknowledge the usefulness and need in laughing a little, for nothing good comes from not being able to enjoy the mastery. This is supported by the intermittent chants that my team and I carry out, that has always been traditional, known greatly to boosting energy on the court. Most notably, it is always good to give thanks and praise to any step towards becoming greater, for in volleyball life, it is the little moments and moves, that make a big difference. By all means then, it is vital in saying to myself and my team mates “good effort, don’t give it up”.
7. What three things have you learnt in life which you would to teach the younger generation? Do you have a Belizean role model?
In just sharing two decades apart of life, I’ve come across several “key to note”, of those, I chose to say that life becomes more manageable when one considers being focus, persistent and an activist to holistic self-care. I say this for the sake that any measure of success is gained through being a chaser of one’s dream and never losing sight of it; the words of “focus” and “persistent” paraphrased. Besides, self-care in all aspects allows a person to carry forward a mind, body and soul that is able and willing to go with the tides of life. These have all been a part of my testimony to surviving the ups and the downs of my tangles and triumphs. Apart of my triumph comes from following closely to the person I look up to as a role model, who is my father, Darius Avila. My dad has always been and continues to be a very focus individual that has placed into me the motivation to always press forward. He’s the true representation of a family man and the reflection of my future self. In all, my dad has always been supportive of my sporting career, of which I’ll always cherish.
8. What can Belize expect from you in the next 5 years? If you were the Minister of Sports, what changes would you implement as it relates to sporting disciplines nationally?
In five years’ time, it can be expected that I’ll still share in my passion for the sport in volleyball by partaking in tournaments under any listed capacity. Besides I aspire to continuing my Environmental-Science career alongside doing a volunteer work, internship in my community and places of professional development. If I were to become the Minister of Sports, I would focus mainly in having an open network sharing between athletes around the country. It has come to my realization that the support of sports have been the downfall of many potential players. I would then place having education and sports as partners in molding a player given that schooling institutions is known to house hidden talents. Once found, these talents will then be nurtured into growing youths to another level in enabling them to compete locally and internationally.
9. In one of my recent articles, I stated: ‘It is important to realize that majority of Belize’s younger populations continue to be very mediocre as it relates to becoming holistically educated and cultured, personally and professionally.’ What’s your perspective on this?
I have had first-hand experience with knowing that getting better, learning and growing is an individual determination, nobody but yourself will do that for you. As part of being a successful Belizean, youths must hold a strong sense of commitment to valued morals along with finding the balance between work and play. Any person that wakes up each morning ready to gain from another twenty-four hours, is learning and practicing more. As such, it is best when a person secures himself in being well-rounded so that he can never “short-change” his existence and effort.
10. What three words do you have to say to young Belizeans?
I would always tell anyone I come in contact with “Focus. Different. Inspire”.
Always remain focus on what it is that you’re doing and where you’re heading as well as to never lose sight of the importance in being different. No one who lives to tell a great story followed the crowd all the way, with that, be sure to always leave an occasion or location better than you found it; positive words are always better than pocket money.
