Everyone has life experiences. Some can be new and fun, like the first time ever going to Disney World as a child. Meeting your favorite movie characters and seeing stories come to life. Other can be tragic, like losing a loved one or suffering a car crash. No matter the experience we all learn from them. I am here to tell you about an experience of mine that I went through at an early age. At the age of 15, I told my parents that I wanted to play football. The sport of football really changed my view on life and taught me that things don’t come easy and that if you really want something, you’re going to have to put in the time and work. One of the many experiences of being in the sport of football is that practice is one of the toughest things I’ve ever went through, physically and mentally. Football taught me a lot about team work and working with others on doing and executing a job. Football made me faster stronger smarter and wiser. I had great coaches who always encouraged me to keep going whenever I wanted to quit because something was too hard or I was feeling …show more content…
week. I will also tell you about scoring a touchdown on a fumble I recovered in my first game ever. These are the some of the many experiences of playing football that I will share with you today. These are the ones I will never forget. First, before I was 15 I was never really into sports, it really never interested me. My parents were Immigrants who moved to the states before I was born. They never got into American sports so I was never brought up watching it. Soccer is what my dad loves and even that sport I never really cared for. Growing up I was always a big kid, and always was one of the strongest in my classes. I guess I did always have great natural strength. Friends and family would always suggest I should play football. I always thought it would be cool being able to push people around, tackling somebody to the ground. Just assuming I would already be the strongest guy on the field, like I always been in my classes at school. I couldn’t be anymore wrong. For example, my first day of practice was when I realized what I have gotten myself into. I was very out of shape and I found that out immediately, when our coach started us off with 2 laps around the football field. At the end of the first lap my legs were already feeling like jello, it was hard to get air in my lungs, my heart felt like it was going to burst out of my chest. I’ve never gone through anything physically that I was going through there and keep in mind it was only one lap.mid second lap I was already walking barely able to feel my legs. After the two laps we got started on drills that would help us with our upper body strength. I felt to tired to do anything at that moment I didn’t want to continue and started thinking that I couldn’t do this. However, I had a coach though who I’m grateful for today because during those hard times where I wanted to give up and thought I couldn’t do something, he was there always encouraging me to keep going telling me nothing was impossible.
He taught me that football was 80% mental and 20% physical. I stuck with it and kept going. I showed up to practice everyday, did the drills and even when I was in pain and those thoughts of giving up and not being able to do something would come back, I would just encourage myself to keep going and remember all the things coach taught me. As days and weeks when by and started to notice differences in myself. I was able to run longer, move faster, my stamina was the best it’s ever been. I would be tired and out of breath but a couple of seconds later I would be breathing normaly again. Physically I was feeling great. It’s true what they say “suffer now, enjoy
later.” Furthermore, it had finally arrived. The day my teammates and I had put in hard work and long hours for. It was our first game of the season. We were excited, although I think we were more nervous. It was a night game and everyone’s family and friends were there to watch us play. Game time had arrived we had our game plan setup everyone making sure they knew what their assignment was, we were ready to go. Like everything in life things don’t always go your way. Mistakes were made on plays, penalties killing our some of our drives, missed assignments. We were losing at half by 2 touchdowns. Guys were angry and frustrated. Some wanted to quit and just call it a game. Coach made sure to keep our heads on right and tell us that we can still come out of here with a win if we wanted to. To illustrate, in the second half things were going a lot better. We were making plays, guys were executing. On a halfback run up the middle on the 4 yard line where we had to score to bring us within one touchdown our running back had fumbled the ball, the ball came out and bounced right into my chest, my arms wrapped around it and I took off for the end zone and scored the touchdown. Nobody on both teams noticed what had happened till the referee had blew his whistle signaling a touchdown and I was spiking the ball in the end zone in celebration. Having my teammates jumping on me congratulating, hearing the crowd cheering, it was one of the greatest moments of my life, one ill never forget. In conclusion, everyone has life experiences they go through. Good or bad we all learn from them and we’re all affected by them. My first time playing football was one of the experiences I wanted to share with you. These experiences helped me realize that nothing is easy if you want something you must work for it. Success isn’t given its earned. Because of that experience I am now working on reaching a new goal, to graduate high school and receive my diploma.
Many things have helped to shape my identity to make me the person I am. The most influential thing that has shaped me is my culture. One of the biggest pieces of my culture that has done this is my participation in sports. Out of the sports I play, high school soccer has shaped me the most. Soccer in high school shaped my identity by making me more social, a leader, and open minded about diversity.
In my life, I had not had the chance to be a part of something that influenced me much, until I joined football my freshman year in high school. Joining football was perhaps the most devoted and wisest thing that I did because shortly after joining I began to see changes for the better, and from then I saw the person that I wanted to be in the future. In other words, it shaped the person that I am today and will be for the rest of my life. Not only did the sport influence me but it also equipped me with a new mindset that affects me today in my decision making skills, time management and many other beneficial life virtues. I believe that these virtues will bring me success in the nearest future because I feel confident about myself and I feel more in control in my life through my actions, all thanks to simply joining what seemed to be a “regular” extracurricular.
First up, you need to be inspired by somebody. Without being inspired, there is no reason to take up football. “When you speak of role models, when we talk to our kids, everybody is a role model, everyone, just as you look at a Michael Jordan to be the terrific athlete he is.” ( Walter Payton, Hall of Famer Running back.) Payton was right when he said this. Anyone can inspire you, so you need to be inspired by someone, which is the easy part, and start picking up a football.
After four years of a new team every season, I went into my first practice of my fifth soccer season expecting the same to be true. Play on this team for one year and then be randomly placed on a different one the following year. Little did I know this team, especially the coaches, would leave a lasting impact on my life. I gained an invaluable support system that has stuck by my side for an upwards of nine years.
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
Each game, my passion grew. Each team, new memories and lifelong friends were made. Sports sometimes make me feel disappointment and at loss; but it taught me to be resilient to a lot of things, like how to thrive under pressure and come out on top. Being the team captain of my high school’s football and lacrosse team showed me how having a big responsibility to bring a group together to work as one is compared to many situations in life. Currently playing varsity football, varsity lacrosse, and track I take great pride in the activities I do. Staying on top of my academics, being duel enrolled at Indian River State College, working three nights a week, and two different sport practices after school each day shaped my character to having a hard work
Do you have that certain something that has affected your life for better? Football is that thing for me. I have played it as long as I could walk. I still remember the time when I was very little and my dad would take me to the front yard and we would play catch and talk about football for hours. I have enjoyed football in three big parts of life: Pee Wee, Junior High, and High school.
When you are faced with adversity or thrown some curve that life presents without this character building lesson you might feel weak and want to give up. Working as hard in practice as I did built character and my reputation with my coach and other teammates. That is what those practices taught us, it pushed us to our limit so we would be able to push through real life adversity in the future. Every person faces adversity, what separates people is how they deal with it. I believe that those countless hours in the summer have changed my mindset when facing a challenge. I have studied harder because of it, my grade average went from 92.5 freshman year to a 95 this year. I realized that something isn't worth your time unless you try your absolute hardest and that was my mindset this year. If I never played football I doubt my grades would be as good as they are right now. I believe that hard work definitely altered the way I approach situations and my
Growing up, from the time I started my first day of class until walking across my hometowns football field to receive my diploma I never had thought that I let something define the person that I have become today. However, being presented with this essay I have come to the realization that football has defined me as a person. I don’t mean to say that the sport has had this much of an impact on me, I’d rather like to think that the memories associated with the sport has made an everlasting impact on my life.
I have constantly loved soccer since the day I began playing in California for my youth soccer group.I had never followed it much and just knew how to play until I moved to India. In America soccer is not that prevalent a game compared to Baseball and American Football however around the globe it is the most famous game on the planet. I have always played football however I had never followed it until I was 14 and that touched off an enthusiasm in me like nothing else.
From the early ages in history to the present day, sports have always been an important part of society. It teaches discipline, how to be a team player, how to interact with others and is a good source of physical activity. In specific, football utilizes all of these aspects of sports and it’s a great source of teaching self-restraint and perseverance. Some may say that football is a violent sport or it’s not beneficial in any way, but in reality it gives a person the basic tools needed not only for playing the game, but also how you interact with people in society.
Everyone has different experiences that shape them into who they are as a person. Some are negative and some are positive, but that is how life goes. I first started participating in sports at the age of three years old, when my mother put me in gymnastics. Growing up an athlete I learned many life lessons and how to get over the hurdles life puts in front of you.
American Football is not merely a sport, its a culture. In the south football is in some ways a lifestyle. From the rivalries to the championships its truly one of the most exciting sports to have ever been created. This is why I love it so much, it is much more than just a game it has a much deeper meaning to it. From the outside looking in, many people do not fully realize the impact it has on each and every player throughout its history. Football has made me who I am today.
Jeff Kemp, a retired professional NFL quarterback, once stated, “Sports teach positive lessons that enrich America even while revealing its flaws” (Kemp). Athletics offer so much more than the joy of game day and the thrill of a win. Being involved in sports holds the key to a world filled with passion, excitement, and once in a lifetime opportunities. There is nothing better than seeing the student section arrive in full force or hearing the school fight song chanted before kickoff. However, when life moves on and leaves sports behind, the lessons it has instilled in athletes never disappears. The play calls may be foggy and the jersey will be too tight, but what was innocently learned in the jersey shines out at an older age. Although life lessons can be learned through everyday activities, lessons such as teamwork, self-confidence, and dealing with failure are only truly learned through sports by young athletes.
The game of football is an essential determining factor that turns boys into men, and every boy at some point should learn to play the game. Not for the game itself, but for the things it teaches about working hard to achieve a goal and how to find another way to reach that goal if failure ensues the first try. The fundamentals of football were drilled into me as a three year old, along with tremendous off season workouts and being able to coach little league football and passing down my knowledge to others, are the key factors that lead to my breakout season and being one of the best players on the team.