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Academic success through sports
Athletics and academic success
Academic success through sports
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When I first started high school, it was difficult for me to learn things. Things that seemed natural to my peers wasn’t easy for me to come by. One of my passions in high school was basketball; where I could be myself, I didn’t feel like I was underachieving, I felt as if I belonged. My coach, Reggie Walker, helped me become something more. He helped me understand that no problem was too small or unachievable if I just tried.
Freshman year coach Walker wanted me to play Junior Varsity basketball for me to do that I needed to bring my grades up. He would have me come in early and every morning and help review all my work and show me areas that I needed to improve. It helped me see that every issue that I had with homework could be overcome
Basketball is a chart-topping sport that is loved by many fans. It’s been a hit since 1891 when it began, starting in Springfield, Massachusetts. It grew rapidly in popularity and spread around the world. Many people found it comforting to play, such as Pat Conroy. Pat Conroy was an outstanding basketball player, who was committed in going far with his teammates. Although he seemed superb, he had a troubled life growing up at his family home. His parents were abusive and uncaring towards him, therefore he used basketball as an alternative. In My Losing Season, Pat was able to obliterate the thought of his abusive parents. His comfort was playing basketball with a team he will never fail to remember. The outcomes Pat acquired were admirable,
The move did not come easy to Dave, so he used sports to help that transition. While in high school, he still muchly enjoyed his passion for basketball, but he found himself often sitting on the bench. He used that time to study the game and came to a realization that he had a passion for coaching. Dave decided then that he was going to go to Illinois State University to study Physical Education and Coaching. During senior year, Dave’s dream was nearly shattered when he and his friends were involved in a horrible car accident. Dave was rushed to the hospital where he had several broken bones and collapsed lungs. While in the emergency room his heart flat lined. Doctors were able to resuscitate him and his recovery took several months. That experience had a profound impact on him. He felt God gave him a second chance and that he truly wanted to make a difference. This intensified his goal of becoming a successful teacher and
Starting my freshman year at County High School, I played basketball and loved every minute of it. I wouldn’t be conceited enough to say I was good, but God did bless me with the talent to play. My life revolved around the sport of basketball; some would say I slept, ate, and breathed every part of it. I spent all my time training and practicing to make myself a more dedicated athlete. This dedication not only helped me as a player, but also molded me into the person I am today. It somehow helped to prepare me for what defeat I would face with back surgery in the future.
Michael Jordan once said “I will not let anything get in the way of me and my competitive enthusiasm to win”. This have help people of all ages get through their burdens and do something they love instead of doing some negative. For many people basketball has become more than a game, it’s the way of life. The American game of basketball has traveled now, it’s played by more than 250 million people worldwide.
“The odds of a high school basketball player making it to the “next level” to play college basketball (DI, II, or III) is slim. In fact, only 3.4% of high school players go on to play college basketball. Taking it even further, only 1.2% of college basketball players go on to get drafted in the NBA” (Winters, 2016). There are two types of players in the game. There are the kids who play basketball because they are athletic, and all they are seeking to gain is the recognition and awards. They want to be known. Those players are self-centered, they do not play for the team, and generally don’t play because they love the game. These are the types of players who don’t usually go on to play at the next level. On the other hand, there are the players that absolutely dedicate their life to the game of basketball just because they love the game. That is what coaches are looking for in a player, and that is the kind of player I am striving to be.
Everyone wants to get better at something, but some want it more than others. In “How to Transform an Everyday, Ordinary Hoop Court into a Place of Higher Learning and You at the Podium”, the narrator wants to get better at basketball, so he wakes up everyday at 4:30 to go with his dad to his work. Everyday, the narrator would wait 3 hours in his dad’s car until the gym opened, only to sit on the bench and watch the other men play basketball. Finally, one of the best players, Dante, tells the narrator he can play but he’ll get “smoked”. However, the narrator proved him wrong. The narrator learns that if you persevere, work hard, and have confidence, your dreams may come true. In How to Transform an Everyday, Ordinary Hoop Court into a Place
When I was in middle school I was considered weak, soft, and a person who needed attention. They would say these things despite my athleticism and determination to do the best in whatever I’d do. When I realized the only way to prove them wrong i turned to my athleticism and the only thing keeping me sane was my passion for poetry. I did this all in the hopes of making it into college.
But I had no time to doubt myself. Hadn’t I practiced everyday after school until my body begged me to stop? Even after my mom’s ineffective attempts to get me to eat dinner, I couldn’t go in yet; I had to get my lay-up just right. Everyday, with nothing but the chorus of crickets and mosquitoes as my company, I did the same drills to improve my basketball skills, the same exercises to build my strength, and held on to the same dream driving me to seek perfection.
I decided that I wanted to play a sport, I chose volleyball. Most of my friends played the sport so it wasn't hard for me to adjust and make new friends. Becoming a student athlete was a big adjustment for me, I could no longer float through my classes but I need to excel. And that's exactly what I did. For the first time in my high school career I made not only honor roll, but principal’s honor roll. For the first time my mom was proud of my report card, that made me even more proud. From then on I knew I wanted nothing less than what I earned, good grades and a proud family. From my decision to chose to become a student athlete not only make me work harder but, be great at everything I put my mind to. I had motivation to stay successful, to stay eligible. Three years ago if you were to ask me where I thought I would be my senior year, I probably would have told you low level classes barely making it by. Now here I am today excelling in my education preparing to take the next step in my future, college. Even if we don’t understand why we go through them, we have to be willing to let our obstacles become out
The transition from middle school to high school was a major turning point in my life. I moved from thin workbooks to thick anthology-like textbooks, wide-ruled one paged essays to college ruled four page essays, and simple arithmetic to complex math such as calculus. Everything became more challenging and difficult. However, I wasn’t going to let anything deter me from completing high school successfully. Not only had academics been somewhat of an obstacle for me, but so was the journey I took through Saunders varsity basketball. Both my development in academics and journey through basketball marked my transition into adulthood.
From an early age, I've been very passionate about basketball. However, basketball didn't always come as easy to me as it does now. Learning the basics proved to be a struggle at first, but I didn’t want my failures to define who I was as a player. To me, failure is a bitter yet necessary evil. No one ever wants to fail; nonetheless, it happens whether we want it or not. With that in mind, what comes next is the important part. What you choose to do with your failures not only defines you as a player but also as a person. If you allow your failures the chance to get the best of you, that is exactly what they will do. Following that pattern prevents any chance to improve yourself. However, if you use them as a chance to learn or to grow, you'll discover success not just in sports but in life as well. In some way or another, anyone who has found success in one area owes their success to failures in another. My story is a story full of mistakes and success, a classic tale of rising from the ashes.
Theatre is a major passion of mine. Even though I have only been involved in a total a three plays, theatre has fascinated me since I was a child. During a field trip in elementary school I got to see my very first play on an actual stage, Peter Pan performed at a small local theatre downtown. Awestruck is the best way to describe the immense feeling of adoration, captivation, and pure joy that I had found while watching that play. Peter pan had always been, and still is, one of my favourite movies.
"Passion for Fashion" is too cliché. I'm guessing about 50% of people who submit their essays have that phrase. Of course I have passion, but it is more than that. Singer machine, merrow machine, blind machine and cover stitch were always around me as a child and until now it is around me. My mom, who is my biggest influence, has been a seamstress for the past 40 years.
Passion for Family, Community, Business, Technology and Intellectual growth are what motivate me on the daily basis. These are vital parts that have contributed to framing me into the person I’ve become. They have also shaped my short-term and long-term goals in life. It’s critical for one to have a vision for their life and what they anticipate to accomplish. Without a vision or desire there is no hope for one to continue and to purse anything. My experiences with in my passions have helped me aligned my vision for my life. They have given me the valuable knowledge that have set me up for success to get to this point in life.
School began interesting for me my last year of high school. School was always important to me, but I never had a passion for it. However, I always put myself in a position to find a passion for school. I never skipped class, I never talked back, and I did my best to stay engaged in every class at all times. A desire to succeed in school did not happen until my final year of high school. I made it my mission to do well in school even if I had not found a passion for school. With my Dyslexia and my ADD, I have always struggled in school, and still struggle in school. I did not discover my Dyslexia and ADD until I was in the 10th grade. The doctor said I relied on my intelligence to create other ways to find the answer which masked my disabilities.