In my 17 years on this earth one theme has been consistent, Adversity. Things always have been harder for me, from receiving acceptance to getting fair opportunities. Now this word “adversity” can make or break most people and can take them to a point of giving up on their dreams. However, for me, adversity has been my biggest motivator. It has made me mentally stronger and a greater competitor. I will never forget the turning point in my life where my perspective changed and altered the way I go about doing things.
During the end of my sophomore year, I was supposed to be the next starting quarterback on my high school’s football team. It seemed that my coach was promising me the world, he said, “All you have to do is work hard and the spot is yours”. I did exactly what he asked of me, showed up for every meeting and every workout. When we did volunteer events, I was one of the few who participated. I was so determined and committed to do the work necessary to get that starting spot. I felt the spot was mine until someone over six feet four inches transferred who played the same position with division one scholarships and hype to his name. My coach told me he was not even aware the kid was going to transfer and convinced me that it would be a fair competition. I later learned these statements were untrue. Nonetheless, even though my five feet ten inches may have seemed a disadvantage, I was confident in my skills and did not let the new transfer distract me from my goal.
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My parents were the only people who were always encouraging me to keep going and strive for what I want. It seemed everyone else doubted me and suggested that I should stop trying to get that quarterback position and play another position. However that only built up my mental toughness and strengthened my character. I was determined not to take the easy way
Adversities are often given a negative connotation and view, as most consider them to be hurdles which impede progress. Nevertheless when taken in and accepted under a positive light, adversities can serve as stepping stones through which an individual can better their character. In the face of looming obstacles individuals who persevere come out of the situation as stronger, determined, and more hopeful for the future.
At some point in life most people have allowed at least one challenge to defeat them, if not more. Then there are those people who view these challenges as simply that, a challenge. This was the theme throughout Kyle Maynard’s novel, No Excuses, I learned that it is how we go about conquering these challenges that defines us as people. Throughout his novel he notes things will not always come easily; therefore, it is up to us to dig deep and conquer our goals. By finding alternate routes and adjusting your mindset, we are able to achieve any goal we set our minds to. Because it is not the obstacle that holds us back but it is ourselves that keeps us from fulfilling our greatest
Most people do not actively seek out adversity, yet few can escape encountering adversity in the form of hardships and afflictions. Two people who faced great adversity in their lives were Martin Luther King Jr. and my father Brent Vickery. These men both faced adversity in different degrees and at different times and places within the United States, but what makes them similar is that their strength of character allowed them to face adversity boldly.
Adversity can be defined as a state or instance of serious or continued difficulty or misfortune. Many things in life can bring one adversity, however some are faced with more adversity in their lives than others. Overcoming this adversity can be one of the most difficult things that a person encounters, and at times, it may consume them. People attempt to persevere through adversity in many different ways. One of the most effective ways is to keep pushing through and to never give up. If one loses sight of what is driving them to persevere through adversity, it will swallow them up with no remorse. Staying mentally tough and focused on an end goal is how people not only persevere, but thrive through adversity.
Even though I thought that it would never be possible judging by the place I had been in 8 months before, I earned a spot starting at cornerback. Though I had the starting spot for the first game, I kept the same mentality that Peterson had taught me unknowingly, to work as hard as you could every single day. After the first game had ended, I felt very confident that I had kept my starting spot. As the games went on, and the season grew deeper into the year, I kept striving to become a better player. Peterson is notorious for shutting down the opposing teams best player, and when week nine and ten came, I took on those duties. I knew that the two kids that I would have to face were bigger and stronger than me, but I knew that size and strength didn’t matter as long as you had confidence in yourself and the teammates around you. I won some and lost some of the many battles fought throughout the entire year. Although I didn’t give up a single touchdown the entire year, our team still lost two games, one ending our season in the first round of playoffs. Throughout the entire season I kept working hard as I possibly could, and in turn, I turned myself into a good football player thanks to
Sadly, my family was going through financial struggles, forcing me out of the school zone I was destined to attend. When I discussed the situation wih the high school coaches they told me they would pick me up from my new house and take me to school every day; with the condition that I’d play football for them all throughout high school. Even though this was illegal I continued to go ahead and accept the offer. My first year of high school was so exciting that it went by in the blink of an eye. Sophomore year came and the clock ticked closer and closer to when everything would change. I started in varsity as a corner back but soon would have big shoes to fill as the team’s quarterback. Not only did this require skill and hard work but the ability and qualities of a leader as well. Ultimately, playing this position helped me acquire traits that would soon be necessary for success. That year was tough for us because the majority of the team consisted of inexperienced players, however the coaches knew I would be the one to lead the
Then, three years ago, I broke through those walls. My conscious urged me against it, ran through all the “what ifs” of the situation, as usual, but this time I couldn’t help it. How can one ever truly test his abilities if one is too afraid to even take any initial risk? So, one cloudy, brisk Saturday morning, and joined the football team. Immediately after the first practice, the option of quitting crept its way into my mind. But how could I ever reach my goals if I couldn’t take on a high school sport? There will be thousands of students in college competing with me, professors looking to make scholars, not dropouts. If I couldn’t face this, I couldn’t face them. So, I endured practice after practice, game after game. Every day, I had to rebuild the courage I had to walk out on the field that first day to step out on the field. I was weaker, smaller, and less apt at the game than man of the guys on that team, but I the constant threat of fear couldn’t hold me back anymore.
Handling adversity is something that all people must do throughout their lives, but it is the ways in which individuals approach adversity that sets us apart. There are two contrasting ways in which you can respond to adversity: 1) you can either curl up into a ball and accept the outcome as it is 2) you can take control of the situation and work hard to make the resulting outcome in your favor. I faced adversity within sports when I was diagnosed with a physical disorder as a child.
When my coach told me those nail biting words I had been waiting to hear for months, I was crushed and confused. My coach told me, "you're not big enough to play at this level". I was as talented as anyone else on the team, but because of my size I was characterized as incapable of playing. I took a step back and looked at the big picture. I knew there was a reason those words were said to me and from that exact moment I decided to change my life around. I was a standout player both my freshman and sophomore year and I was finally called up to play at the varsity level my junior year. I was one of the strongest players on the team and led the team to a district appearance for the first time in years. For the past couple of years, those words my coach told me have stayed in my head. It has determined me to work harder than anyone else not only on the field but off the field as
...h school I wasn’t a great player. Re-involvement came fairly quick for me because a short year later, this year as a matter of fact, I was asked to be a coach for a local high school team. I was honored by the offer and of coarse I took the opportunity. The fact that my father was the head coach probably had something to do with it, but I was just ecstatic to be back on the football field again, even though I wasn’t the one playing. With this coaching position I’ve experienced a lot of new relationships. From meeting a whole new group of players to other coaches it’s been a learning experience and I’ve already built new friendships that I know will last a long time. But the most important relationship I believe I have built because of this experience is a better relationship with my father. In the past we have had our differences but because of football we’ve been closer than I think we’ve ever been before. Football has proven to me to be worth while. It has taught me dedication, determination, teamwork among others. Football has given me an identity of being a part of team and friendships I will have for a lifetime, especially with the person that means the most to me… my father.
E: My story takes place in florida in a small town. In this small town football is everything . In about a week we go to become state champs .Because, of this iḿ looking to get a college scholarship to play football. The school said that Iḿ the biggest half back in there school ever. Iḿ 17 years old and 6ft and 240 pounds . I had to leave my friend john to come to this school. my coach tries to make my team a better team . My friend John is bulky and very tall he is QB for his team .The team that iḿ on won the state playoffs and now we are facing a good team . My old team thought that I left because I wanted to but John didn't think that . My old schools colors were green and white ,my new schools colors were purple and white.To prepare for upcomeing games we watch videos on how the other team plays. We go through a lot of drills to be go at playing football. The only sport at my new school is football.
As I was deciding how I should respond to the prompt I thought of several possibilities. I chose this particular experience because it is fresh on my heart and even though it is a fairly recent experience, it has really made a huge impact on my life and opened my eyes to the world around me.
Throughout life we are all faced with many hardships. Some we may have control over, others not so much. Although I’m only 17, I have experienced many during my life. Some bigger than others. To me, the hardships and difficulties that come our way leave us with two options. To let life grab you buy the foot and drag you until you can no longer get up. Or, you show life that despite the challenges it throws to you, you will always come out stronger than you were before. And I will never let myself live a life where I follow option one.
I live in an apartment in a sub-urban part of San Mateo, which is mostly a residential area. Mainly millionaires own many houses around this area, and they keep themselves updated about the market value of their houses. They cannot stand any factors leading to decrease on the price or as well as the area being un-peaceful.
...nk of as accomplishments that shaped who we are. Measuring ourselves against our personal achievents and the adversity we face is one of the many ways that we can examine our lives and potential. Adversity plays such a big role in our lives that it's almost invisible. We don't realize that practically everyday we face it and set it up to determine who we are going to be. Sometimes people are given a really crappy deck of cards and don’t know how to handle them. When were in a difficult situation, or faced with adversity we have two choices. Battle through it and become an even greater individual because of it or succumb to the situation and give up. It it all depends on how much determination a person has to fight through the adversity and in turn, become a better person.