PROLOGUE “Hey, Water Boy!!” I was used to hearing that on a daily basis. The lovely nickname was usually followed by an order for a clean towel or a bottle of water. Well, at least those were the order in front of the coach or another adult. Otherwise, the team would take advantage of the fact that i was just their useless and obedient water boy. Who could really blame them? I pretty much let them have their way with me because I never wanted to let the team down. Some of the players have put it in my head that having me do all of these things for them made me an official member of the team, like I was a part of the football team’s brotherhood. I’ve done many things that I wasn’t proud of. Some of the things I was too embarrassed or nervous to even accomplish but I did them anyway. It was all for the team, right? Each time one of the boys threw their dirty uniforms at me and told me not to smell them, I thought nothing of it because I knew they were just playing around, but when they once convinced me that the soup was in the girls’ changing room, and they would try to hold in their sneer snickers, I knew they were just messing with me. …show more content…
It was completely against school policy. I could have easily gotten into serious trouble for doing so. God must have been watching out for me because, luckily I was not caught. The girls, however weren’t absent and they weren’t the only ones who were
Throughout my life, I have frequently been a part of a team. Whether it was in an athletic, academic, or employment sense, I have learned many life lessons and values solely because I was a part of these teams. Growing up, I was involved in countless team-based sports in which I had a number of roles. There were times when I had to step up and lead, and times where I had to learn to take a step back and follow. I learned that I was only a small part of the success that happens and that the ultimate goal of the team was
After all my anger was released, I felt guilty of leaving my exhausted, tired brother. I ran back to him as fast as I could, to find Doodle, in the corner of the boat, crying. I got in the boat and asked Doodle, "What happened Doodle? Why are you crying? " I tried to calm him down, but he wouldn't stop crying.
It was my Junior year in high school and I had decided to join the Color Guard team . I was really nervous because if you were selected you would go around the city doing color guards and representing our school. I went to all the practices that usually took place before school early in the morning. When I struggled with something I kept practicing to get done right. When I saw other people who struggled I would ask if they needed help. My instructors saw what I was doing and kept a closer eye on me for it. Eventually it came down to try outs day and the teams were
As the new school year started and I was labeled the ‘cheer captain’ I immediately felt jealousy from my teammates. I was no longer someone they admired but someone they rejected. My teammates no longer had appreciation for me. Everything I did was sabotaged into hurting my feelings and even me. Everyone thought I was higher up on the social scale than I even did.
I was pushed around, yelled and cursed at by some of the biggest dads I have ever seen, but I kept my spirits high in order to pursue greatness. I wasn’t used to wearing a helmet and pads, so catching a football was a challenge. A few weeks down the road, after many hours of observation, the coaches put me on defense in the position of Defensive End. I had no idea what this position was and what my job was. I learned that the Defensive End (DE), plays on the very end of the defensive line and the job of the DE is to rush the Quarterback and to stop any run plays in my direction. I wasn’t very good at doing my job and my coach sought me out and reminded me of that every
Each member on the team shared the same values, emotions, and knowledge of that particular sport. As a freshman and sophomore in high school, I knew that I needed to be on the same level as my other teammates. For me to be accepted in this community, I had to show them my ethos appeals to let them know that I was just like them. Sportsmanship, diligence and perseverance, were the skills needed to show the upperclassmen and my coach that I was serious and that I was ready to be part of the team. The upperclassmen knew that I had it in me; all I had to do was prove that I could do it. Proving to older long time members of the team is not the easiest thing to do. They are cynical about every action you do. In order for me to prove my worth, I had to show an emotional appeal toward the “veterans of the team” which were similar to that of the
Later in the day, my wife pointed out to me that there was a picture of me in the newspaper, vomiting. When I saw that picture for the first time my stomach turned. I thought I was going to throw up again. It was incredibly humiliating and I knew I couldn’t let the people who looked up to me the most see me like that. Not my teammates, my peers, my wife, my son, nobody. It was pathetic. With that picture out in the media, I was already focused on tomorrow’s practice. I was determined to come back the next day, playing harder than ever, and proving everyone wrong.
As a sophomore, I tried out again. There were enough girls to create a junior varsity team but again, I was a benchwarmer for varsity, still not useful enough to play, but too experienced for junior varsity. During this year I started to realize that blaming other players for my failure was
I worked out everyday and practiced every chance I got. When the first day of tryouts came around again, I woke up that morning like every other day, but I knew today was different. I knew that today was the day I was going to redeem myself. When I got to the field most of the guys looked familiar, a few of them even joked around with me and asked "you're back for more?" Unlike the previuos year, I was ready for this tryout. I proved to everyone that doubted me and said I couldn't and I earned my spot on that team. The moment I saw my name on the team's roster was one of my proudest
In my two year career as a Marching Patriot, I have accomplished things I never thought possible. Starting my freshman year, I was insecure about my
My seventh grade year Coach Humble, the seventh grade football coach, asked me and a few of my best friends to join the team. In the beginning, I worked hard to learn the rules of the game. I watched college and NFL teams play on television, and I looked up their practices and drills online as well. After I learned the game, I decided to be the team leader. I felt as if someone on the team needed to be the encourager
I wasn’t very humble my freshmen year of highschool or the first half of my sophomore year for that matter. I knew how good I was or at least how good I thought I was. I assumed too much my first year and a half at Joliet West. Even before this moment, at my elementary school I had tried out for the school softball team and didn’t make it. I assumed because I had been on it the past few years that I was already on the team. So, for
Along with working hard to make the team I wanted to be on most, once I was on the team, I learned that I can’t always control everything. Being knocked down through the seasons, I have less desire to continue playing. “Tough love” would be an understatement on how some of the coaches have treated fellow athletes and I. Never earning a “nice work” or “good job” begins to get frustrating and you get harder on yourself as an athlete. These challenges have grown me as a person and taught me that I shouldn’t give up, no matter how hard it
The day the team got together and fought threw a tough battle facing pinnacle high school. It was our second home game and our record was 1-2. After all of the hard work we had put in over summer, we realized we could not lose, especially in front of our home crowd. At the beginning of the game we did our usual warm-ups, I have never felt so much adrenaline pushing threw my veins in my life. After the warm-ups the whole team got in a big huddle, we chanted a chant that will never be forgotten and one day make history for the pride. After the chant we got ready for kick-off, lined up and ready to go. The crowd started cheering at the first 2 seconds of the game “go pride go, go pride go”. This made the whole team nervous, not just because there was so many
I went to the Amalfi coast for kayaking and it was amazing! Sunshine reflects over crystal blue sea beautifully. I’m so burned out and my arms will be sore tomorrow. It’s been three months since I last saw you and missed you already. I know I have not had a chance to email you back sooner. I have met passionate professors and they are wonderful! I always wish you were here, we can have fun together. I’ve traveled to Florence, Venice, Sardinia, Milan, Naples and now I’m going to Rome soon. I’m too excited to see the coliseum in person for the first time! People here are so friendly and we become good friends.