Was It Worth It? I’m tired of trying to explain why I did what I did when honestly, right now I don’t even know the answer to that. It was the start of high school year. There was a significant amount of pressure on us as freshman because we were at the bottom of the school. I went up to my old football coach that I played for last year and asked when I could go and try out for the team. I wasn’t ready to go that day, but I went anyways. I felt the pressure because all of the other players that were there had been there all summer so they had a chance to be a team together and I was an outcast. The first day was okay though. I was put as wide receiver again and that’s what I’m best at. I was so beaming to be in football. Whenever I play I
I had one friend and his name was Mikey MacGuire he was the one that convinced me to try out. I had a long talk with my dad and mom (mainly my dad) the night before tryouts. He said “Luke, if there is one word of advice I can give you it would be that, Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work” this is a quote from Tim Tebow and his book (Through my eyes). I took his advice to heart and thought about it all day. I came to the conclusion that I just needed to work my ass off.
Ever since I was young my parents said “Drew you should try new things, even if it means you fail at something.” I never really listen to them until one time in the study grade when I decided that it was ok to fail. I asked my parents “ Can we look for a club basketball team that I could try out for?” Thrilled in hearing that I wanted to try something new, they found I tryout for a team called the Cincinnati Royals. A couple of other friends agreed to try out with me, but I was still very nervous because it was my first tryout. All three of us made it through the first round of cuts and were called back for another tryout. I remember being more nervous for the second tryout than I was for the first. My palms sweated the whole night, every shot I took clanked of the rim, it wasn’t my night. My two other friends were told that they made the team, but I unfortunately got cut which I expected given how I performed. At first I saw this experience as an overwhelming failure, but I soon realized that I challenged myself, and I could learn from the criticism the coaches gave me. Taking the new stuff I learned from the tryout, I found a different club basketball team that I was fortunate enough to make, which I got to meet new people and play a sport that I loved. Although I may not have gotten the
I loved everything about the sport, knew everything about the sport, and simply wanted to be physically involved with the sport. I signed up for my local football organization and greatly anticipated the start of the season. My first season our team finished undefeated, winning each game with ease. I played offensive line and enjoyed every play, finally being a part of the sport I loved. My coach at the time admired my hard work and dedication, repeatedly telling my fellow teammates that we should all aspire to have a work ethic such as my own. At the end of the season, my coach suggested I practice to become a quarterback. A quarterback is usually one of the skinniest players on the team, a trait I certainly didn't have. If I were to be a quarterback, I would have to lose at least thirty pounds and practice almost every day until the next season. As crazy as the suggestion seemed to me at the time, I gladly accepted the challenge and almost instantly began to work to become the best quarterback I could
As a Freshman I played JV and Varsity football, because my whole dad side of the family played and continue to plays college football at schools such as NC State, Clemson, Fayetteville State, A&T, and more I was raised up to do the same. The beginning of my high school days was when I started to settle down a lot because of constant practice and more school work. Into my sophomore year I began getting more involved with school and taking part of activities such as serious hunting, lifting weights, and getting more involved in church. My junior year I gave up on football because I wanted a change and plus if I did not I was going to move to a different school that was known for football, my reasoning for not wanting that was because I did not feel like football was my life and I did not want to make that jump all for a
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
First I would be only be accepted as a member of the baseball team if could prove my worth on the practice field and demonstrate my skills as a fielder and hitter. The first opportunity to prove that came at tryouts. Tryouts are the time to showcase everything you’ve got, from making the simple plays to laying out and making a diving catch in the outfield. When it was my turn to make that play I felt all eyes on me, silently judging me. Everyone was doing it, the coaches to determine rank among the hopeful newcomers and among the veterans, the veterans watching me, trying to see if I was a threat to their starting role, and even the other players trying out, hoping I would fail so I wouldn’t
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
There wasn’t a position for me on the football team, but the degree was the utmost important thing. That, and I knew I would make myself a position on the team if I had to. Eventually at Stanford I established myself as the, in my eyes, best corner in the nation. For some reason I’ll never understand, despite turning around a troubled football program, and killing it with my grades, when the nfl draft came and went, I went undrafted. UNDRAFTED! ME! Every team passed on me, even my eventual Seahawks. That disrespect motivated me, motivates me to this day, so when you see me, don’t think of me as the thug, think of me as the guy you never gave enough respect
I am an undocumented student at UC Davis. When I am asked a simple question such as, "describe your personal experiences", I ask myself: Where do I begin?
After a few years i wanted to join football mainly because my brother was in 3 sports and i figured if he could do it so could I. There were other problems stopping me from playing. My mom couldn't afford to have us in a total of 4 sports
It seems unbelievable my oldest is a few days off being a decade old. I know every parent wonders “where has the time gone?” a multitude of times during their children’s childhoods, but as I realize my son is over halfway to 'adulthood' it seems like the time has flown by.
There is a point in everyone’s life when they step back and realize “I can’t do this anymore, it’s ruining my life”. Many of my friends have started smoking cigarettes while drinking at a very young age, and continue to use this drug currently and don’t realize the affect it has on their future. While I have been smart enough to avoid smoking, I haven’t been as wise at making decisions when it comes to drinking. The amount of partying I’ve done in college has taken over my life, and has had a huge impact on my grades. Changing my drinking habits and continuing to avoid cigarettes will enable me to be the best I can be for the rest of my college experience.
The first practice hit you hard we started off with sprints and that was awful people throwing up all around me and I can’t catch my breath but you keep pushing it. I think that was the turning point for me I knew that a lot of people looked at me like small kid that shouldn’t play but after beating them in sprints they saw I was not going to give up. Later on that season it was our 4 game in the season we were going up against Carbondale and we are only up by 6 on defense one of our players go down. I just got off the field on offense they said we need someone I ran to them said I will go in they gave me the nod. When I got on the field it was strange because I never played defense at the time I was just thinking just hit the kid with the ball and you will do fine. The ball snapped so I started back peddling and watching the line men to see if they fire off the line if so it was a run if they backed peddled it was a pass. They fired off the line it was a run so my next thought was where but at soon I was thinking that I saw the running back was coming my way so pushed the receiver off me so it was just me and him. It happen so fast the guy and try to make cut outside but I manage to stick my foot in the ground change direction to tackle him. When I looked up at the time
Ever since I was little I’ve been what you would call a “high achieving” kid. I did well in school, I did well in sports and I did well in my community. I was always the first one to class, and the last one to leave the field. I was the kid that all my friends’ parents compared their children to. I was the kid with a room full of trophies and awards. In my mind, the worst possible thing I could do was disappoint the people around me. In elementary school I was involved in every club imaginable. I was in the band, I played in the orchestra, I sang solos for chorus, I was in the math club, I was president of student council, I played travel soccer, I was involved in every activity possible, and I excelled in all of them. This
It was dark that night, I was nervous that this dreadful day was going to get worse. Sunday, October 23, 1998 I wanted to start writing this to tell about the weird things i’m starting to see in this new neighborhood. Gradually I keep seeing pots and pans on the sink suddenly move to the floor. I would ask my sister but she is out with my mom and dad getting the Halloween costumes. When they got home I didn’t tell them what I saw because i've seen Halloween movies and I have to have dissimulation otherwise the ghost will come out and get me first. October 24, 1998 I think I got a little nervous yesterday with the whole ghost thing. 12:32pm, Went to eat lunch with the family today and I go to get my coat. I heard the words furious and madness,