Graduation Speech : Baseball Season

I have been going to school since I was four years old and, that means that I have been attending school twenty to twenty two years, including kindergarten, middle school, high school and now college. As every student, I had my ups and downs in school; I had some failures and some successes. One of the failures that affected me the most and that I will always remember was the time that I was in high school during my junior year. I failed almost all my classes and, I only passed two classes and with a C. In the other hand I had some really good success. The most recent one and the one that I am still happy about is getting my Family Development Credential. We learn from our mistakes and also from our successes, these two times in my life

My freshman year of high school Coach Specht was the assistant soccer coach, at tryouts he told me that I would have a bright future as a player and could possible play varsity as as a freshman. Throughout the year I keep putting in the time and finally half way through the season I got my chance to play my first varsity game. This showed me that he really believed in my skill, to put a freshman in against mostly juniors and seniors. Not many coaches will risk putting someone that young on the field. From there on out I played in most of the varsity games. I may not of started or played the whole game but it was a great learning experience and really helped me improve as a player. What made playing varsity even better is that we went on to win the school's first league title that year. Without coach Specht’s trust in me I wouldn’t of been able to experience winning the league.

I’m a fourth year varsity soccer player at an all-boys private school of less than 550 students. Despite our small enrollment, for athletics we play in the division of the largest schools, mainly ones with enrollments over 2000 students. We can argue the fairness of our placement as long as we like, but it won’t change our position. We have to accept the challenge of playing larger schools.

Emerson once wrote that "Unless you do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow." By stating this quote, Emerson is trying to help us understand that doing more than what we are comfortable with doing, will help us grow more as an individual. Going above and beyond in school, our work, and sports will help us grow, because we are pushing our brain, and body to do more than it has always done. How often do we say that we do not understand a topic, just because we do not want to actually think about it? Many times in the past, high school students will whine and fuss about not understanding the material within the class because they simply just do not care to push themselves to think past what they know. If we do not understand the material, nor do we ask for help, this will

I have been fortunate to be the recipient of untold hours of guidance of my own coaches and mentors. I can only imagine the sacrifices they have made- time away from family and fatigue just to name a couple. As a result of their investment in me, I have had innumerable opportunities, not the least of which will be the opportunity to attend Rice next fall and play baseball for the Owls. I am doing my best to apply the lessons I've learned through Wylie high school sports, to my life and all the lives I touch through service. All of these lessons impacted my life immensely and will follow me through

I was an incoming freshman, two weeks prior to my first day of high school, and I was terrified. I knew that I loved the sport of football, however I had heard stories from my brother about how tough Stepinac’s freshman football coach was. Everything that I was told was true. One of the coaches great lessons that he taught me was that a hardworking disciplined team is typically more successful than a team that has all of the talent in the world, but is not disciplined and does not work hard. That summer was the hardest that I had ever worked up to that point to start in a football game. The hard work never paid off, and I left at the end of that season defeated. I wasn’t good enough, I wasn’t fast enough, and I wasn’t strong enough. I had only played in two of the games, one, for a snap when

During my four years at Salina Central High School, I’ve been involved in the football team. Michael Hall, my head coach, father figure, and role model has taught me many many things in such special ways in my eyes. When someone joins the program, Coach Hall’s motive is not only to make us great football players but even better people in life and in my case, he’s done a phenomenal job which I’m so extremely grateful for. He taught me how to always have hope, courage, and mercy when it’s necessary.

I had always dreamed of being a big and nasty defensive end. From the day I started football, that’s all I ever wanted. But at 6’2” and being as skinny as a rail, that dream began to fade. All my life I had been a small defensive back, going in the game when someone needed a breather, never really making plays. But this year is different. Coach Morris sees something in me that I didn’t even know I had. He calls it the intimidation factor.

I’d like to start off by thanking everyone involved in me being here today. Not just on this stage, but here mentally in my life. The fans are especially a big part of why and how i’m here today. For every young girl who’s ever came to one of our games and desires to get here in life, I know how you felt. I remember my dad alway bringing me to USSSA softball games and watching every move they made so I could be just like them. You guys are the reason why I get up every morning and go to practice every night, no matter the aching. While many of you voted for me to win this award, there are definitely still people who would’ve never voted for me in a million years. But those people don’t matter in life. Those people shouldn’t have an affect

It was late October, leaves were changing, and cold weather was rolling into the Ohio area. You could always tell whether or not your team had been having a successful fall season when you finish up your regular practice time, and as you are walking out of the gym the mens basketball team is lacing up after you. Our second round of the tournament we travelled out to the boonies of Ohio; Blanchester. An hour trip from our little town, we were determined to come out on top. We weren’t making this trip just for a loss, especially during homecoming week. My team played beautifully, executing a win. After this game, I received a phone call from Jim explaining that a local coach had heard of my recent accolades, seen me play, and was very impressed. Flattered, assuming he was just telling me a compliment, I grinned and told him a generous ‘thank you!’ Little did I know, this coach had played for Coach Condit at Miami University. She had told her about me and wanted me to call her. My heart jumped out of my chest; not only was this one of my top schools WITHOUT volleyball, but now with it was an opportunity of my dreams. A nervous and thrilled sensation struck me all at once. I knew in an instant that this was where I wanted to be, that my goal was within reach I just had to work harder than ever for

Hello everyone! My name is Tania Davis and I’m a sophomore majoring in Exercise Science. My favorite place on campus is the Gerdin Athletic Learning Center because I’m there almost all day everyday throughout the week. I am a member of the women’s basketball team. This is my first time taking an art history class so I’m pretty excited to see what I learn from it. This summer I will be spending most of my time on campus taking classes, and practicing for basketball.

My freshman year flew by as I stood on the sideline game after game, not even caring that I wasn't playing. I was so intimidated by other better players on the team that I did not even want to try and get playing time. Just like that, my freshman year of football went to waste, and I wanted change. I started sophomore year with a new plan. I was going to work harder than everyone no matter who they were. The off-season started and I was introduced to our new JV coach, Coach Mike. The intensity of his practices left me to question every day if that practice was more exhausting than the last. Despite the difficulty, I worked as hard as possible every day, and it paid off. I did not know it at the time but I was not just growing physically, but also mentally. Football taught me leadership, sacrifice, discipline, bravery, selflessness, and most importantly, it taught me resilience. Playing football was and still is one of the most difficult things I've experienced, but football brings out one's true character, and for that very reason, I am glad that I was influenced that day into

The second season came around and after three days of tryouts, I was named captain for the Junior Varsity team. I was proud of myself and so was the coach with my improvement. Midway through the season, I was moved up to Varsity. It wasn't a big deal for some, but to me it felt like passing your driver's test or getting an A on a project. I felt proud of my accomplishment and I had a new sense of determination to get better. After losing the first round playoff game, I wanted to get even better so I worked hard during the off season day in and day out. Before I knew it, the season was on my doorstep, knocking. We started off rough, losing our first 5 games. I saw that everyone on the team was slowly giving up. We had a team meeting and I gave a speech to motivate the team, which helped.We won the next game. Our confidence went up, but then we lost the next game. For some reason, though, no one seemed to be bothered. We went on a 4 game winning streak after. We made it the playoffs, but we lost in the first around again. After the game, I gave another speech on getting better as a team and holding our heads up high. After the season ended, I noticed coaches were starting to scout

As I seat here, at my son’s baseball game for his new baseball team and a new season. I am reminded that everything has a season and comes in cycles. There will always be a change to start over new and began again. Some season or cycles are long and some are shorter. The cycle of the moon is 29 days, and at the beginning of the moon’s cycle it cannot be seen. Just like in live when you start a new season in your live the end cannot be seen, but just like the moon’s cycle each day will come and go and in the end we all have the chance to begin

High school is supposed to be the place where you have fun and a time in your life you’re supposed to enjoy. Movies often trick you into believing that high school is an amazing time in your life and there is nothing but parties and fun. In Bring it on, they portrayed the fun and exciting part of high school cheer-leading, however they intentionally leave out the tough times high school students’ face in school and in their practices. In other popular movies, such as High School Musical the students have no pressures other than the next basketball game. In reality, this doesn 't happen. The constant pressure is affected by the grade level you are in. In high school, students can be classified based on the pressures that are faced in each grade level into the categories of freshman, sophomores/juniors, and seniors. I am here to help you make your high school experience less stressful.