No Excuses By Kyle Maynard

In the article “Playing With Pain” by Michelle Crouch, published by Scholastic SCOPE, in December 2015 and January 2016, is about how when you specialize in one sport, you put a lot pressure on yourself to do well and be the best you can be, but some consequences can be life changing.

I find myself here a few years later, looking back on those times when I thought that I would never grow old, but here I am asking myself, “Why did I give up a sport that I enjoyed so much?” ,or “Why did I join wrestling again after a year of failure?”. After reading Grazer’s work, I think I have an answer. It wasn’t entirely because I didn’t want to upset my father that I quit basketball and joined wrestling, it was because I knew all I needed to know about basketball

Being a small framed boy, it was no walk in the park to be in such a physical sport, not to mention, he was on a league of older and much larger seventh and eighth graders. Even though he was much younger and built extremely smaller than the others on the league, Lou finally talked his uncle into letting him in on a play. The lesson he learned from this play would stick with Lou for the rest of his life. As the play unfolded, Lou stood motionless and petrified as he saw one of the large boys on the opposing team charging after him, and all he could think of was getting out of his way before he got tackled. The disappointment that he felt from his uncle as well as his team became a turning point in his life and one of the first great lessons that he learned. Young Lou had a job to do in this play during the game, and by cowering away, he turned his back on his responsibilities not only to his uncle and his team, but to himself. He vowed from then on to never make that mistake again. If he was in place to do a job, he was going to give it all he had. His theory was that even if he failed at trying, it was better to do his best than to give up on his obligations. This was one of his greatest lessons learned in teamwork.

This right here is a prime example of how making one decision to get back up after being knocked down can affect the way you are for the rest of life. I could’ve just been like I don't care this is way to hard i don't like doing any of this but I thought of all the positive like my dad had told me and what did it do to me; it made an athlete, it helped me get back into shape, it had made it possible for memories to be made with friends that are family the people who I play with for the remaining years of high school. Nothing that has happened to me has made

It is a way to remind oneself that giving up is not an option; neither should be getting complacent with what is going on or your class in life. Perseverance should drive people to do good in their lives, much like it did for J.D. Vance. Much of my life is devoted to sports. I’ve played and have been a student of sports since I was five years old. There are not many days that I do not pick up a baseball bat or dribble a basketball. As can be imagined, I have fought my way through some tough situations; the one I remember the most vivid and learned that perseverance will make things better, was when I was in the fifth grade. I made the “A” team for basketball, and many might think, how is that an issue? Classmates and teammates even said that I should not be on the team because I was not fast enough, strong enough, and could not shoot well. They told me this, and it hurt my feelings (remember I am only in the fifth grade, so these were big issues). It was the first time I could remember that someone had doubted me, and it sucked. Instinctively I, being the competitive person I am, who will get wildly into a student-center air hockey game, wanted to prove my teammates wrong. I went to practice each day and worked my butt off, and even after practicing went out in my backyard and practiced more by putting up more shots. I was not going to let a bunch of fifth graders tell me I am not good enough to play the

“ Don’t walk through life just playing football. Don't walk through life just being a athlete. Athletics will fade. Character and integrity and really making an impact on someone’s life.”

It is human nature that every day we are forced to overcome an obstacle, an obstacle that we may see as a failure. It is the lesson that we take away from that failure that contributes to our success as individuals. Our success stems from our willingness to overcome failure. One quote that helps to reinforce this idea comes from Vince Lombardi who said, “The difference between a successful person and others is not the lack of strength, lack of knowledge, but the lack of will.” After facing a tough loss early in the season, the Middletown Lions football team had to rally and overcome our failures to get back on track for a successful season.

More specifically, Walter Payton played tough and physical which led him to his greatness. The great running back’s motto is, “Never die easy. Why run out of bounds and die easy? Make that linebacker pay. It carries into all facets of your life. It's okay to lose, to die, but don't die without trying” (Payton 54). Through Walter Payton’s words, he expresses his take on the game of football, and life itself. This quote epitomizes how Walter Payton will never give up despite the circumstances. Even though he only stood 5ft 10in playing a sport where height and power ruled over all, Walter Payton found other ways to become a legend. According to hall of fame wide receiver Marcus Allen, “Statistics weren’t the true measure of his greatness. It was his courage and his will. You look at a guy who wasn’t physically imposing but who was magnificent at what he did” (Wharton). Allen’s explanation perfectly shows how Walter Payton played the game of football. Although his stature was not ideal, he made up for his size with his athleticism and motivation. He is a true role model exemplifying hard work, determination, and never giving

“Football has actually helped my life out so much, without football I don’t think I’d be as far as I am,” Thayer said. “Understanding the game of football is one thing, but it actually teaches you how to be a man in some circumstances and how to grow up a lot faster. I’ve had coaches that are out here who help me daily and they help me understand that everything’s not going to go your way and when it doesn’t go your way keep your head up and keep pushing and that’s when things come your way. So, I think football has taught me a lot and it’s actually driven me all the way here and to be able to go from high

Speed Reading: The Comprehensive Guide to Speed Reading – Increase Your Reading Speed By 300% In Less Than 24 Hours by Nathan Armstrong is a very helpful resource for those looking to pick up speed-reading or learn more about the subject. Throughout the book, Armstrong explains the concept of speed-reading and how it can benefit everyday life. He provides tips and tricks on how to improve this skill and notes common obstacles people face when reading and suggests ways to overcome them.

Many

Many

Multiple

Throughout my high school career in sports, I have dealt with a countless amount of injuries that have not allowed me to play a full season in any sport. As rough as times got during those injuries, I managed to come back each time stronger than I was before. This taught me that it’s not about whether you get knocked down; it’s whether

Adam Lambert says, “Being different is always going to be a tough climb.” What do the stories from the Pixar people tell us about what it is like to be a kid and be on that “tough climb?” Pixar people is trying to tell us that being different is okay and if you stay true, strong, and loyal to yourself and you will create happiness and self esteem within yourself. They explained how being gay and coming out was extremely difficult but no matter how hard things may seem things will get better if you start thinking about the future and not just the things that are happening now. Everyone in life goes through some type of struggles in life and there is always someone in the world that is experiencing the same things that you are