Personal Narrative: My First Year On Varsity Football

Malcolm X once said, “There is no better than adversity. Every defeat; every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance next time.” I stared closely at the scoreboard, watching the seconds count down. I grasped that I would not be playing in this game or the next, or the one following that. This season would be a learning experience, an experience that would strengthen my mind and spirit. My first year on varsity soccer was truly a challenge. I struggled for the first time in my soccer career and faced many difficult obstacles, along the way. The season began, and I was immediately labeled as a “reserve” player. I was a bench warmer and a useless substitute, who had minimal playing time.

If I went it, or did play, it was in the latter part of the game, where the team would be up by a wide margin. The coaches did not trust me to get the job done. I was told I needed to be more physical, needed to win more 50/50 head balls and tackles, was not fast enough, and could not keep up with the older players on the team. I practiced just as hard as any other player on the team. Throughout the season, I woke up most mornings and questioned my role on the team. How effective am I? What am I contributing to the program? I changed. I developed negative thoughts and emotions. I stopped smiling on the field; I was angry, frustrated, disappointed, and, most of all, humiliated. My confidence disappeared. My love for soccer shattered altogether. Did I want to play soccer anymore?
Reflecting back on this life-changing experience, I learned much about myself.