Personal Narrative: Going Through High School

"It's time to go!" my mom yelled on Saturday morning. I reluctantly rolled out of bed. Our first game was early in the morning, which meant that both teams would be sluggish and tired. But when we arrived at the fields, the dew dampened my socks and the fresh scent of grass energized me. As my teammates joined me, my anticipation for the game grew. Throughout the whole day, we used all of our energy and squashed the competition. Just like the regular season, we had won all of our games. As the bright blue sky faded to orange, our team rested on a hill and listened as our coach, Mark, gave a pep talk. "You played well today!" he said encouragingly. "We're playing in the championship game tomorrow at noon. Be there at 11:30." Reagan, an eighth grader, added, "Let's get a win tomorrow!' Cheering excitedly, we headed toward our cars.

My team, Clackamas Select, down against a top ranked AAU team, Salem Swish. In basketball terms, it was crunchtime. We needed a 3 pointer, specifically from someone who specialized in shooting. Who would’ve thought that I, once the shy little kid who never tried, would step up to take the final shot? I got the ball, and time slowed down. I took one quick glance into the crowd, and I saw my dad. He was smiling. He knew what was coming next. The intensity of the game was reaching it's climax, with the crowd on their feet and the noise in the gym seemingly getting louder by the second.With 5 seconds left, I storm down the court, eyeing the 3 point line. I ran this simulation in the driveway all the time, yearning for the chance to be in that situation. After that it was just like practice. Garnering the remaining energy left in my body, I shot from the same distance I practiced for the past 4 years, and waited for that sweet, harmonious noise. Swish. I was surrounded by the people and sport I loved as the buzzer went off. I couldn’t be

While dressing unfashionably, looking both uneasy and clueless, in a class with no more than twenty students, millions of questions suddenly appear in my chaotic head. Questions such as “what will happen to me?,” and “how can I understand this?” built up the doubt in me. However, who would have guessed that six years later, I would become a girl who has adopted a different vibe with more confidence and enthusiasm, which I thought would never be possible, six years ago.

Although I have not excelled academically throughout high school, I have excelled in athletics and having respect for others around me. Through playing sports and participating in different community service activities I have learned how to treat others with respect and how to work effectively and well with others. Throughout high school I have encountered many different types of people and coaches; there was a rarely a time that I did not connect and get along with the people I met. I hope to have positive effects on the different people that I meet throughout my life. I also try to be leader on and off the court. I want to set a positive example for the people around me. My basketball team had a rough season my junior year; showing respect

Pulling into the parking lot was a lot more nerve racking than I thought. I could feel my body shaking from head to toe; trying to remind myself to take deep breaths. This was the first time I wasn’t playing in the game, and I had anxiety just like every spectator had for my team. Everyone, including me, was rooting for us to win, and I didn’t want to disappoint. It had to be 90 degrees that day, because I could feel the sweat dripping down my face as if I had just run a marathon. My nerves didn’t help either, because it just made me sweat even more. When I grabbed the handle to open the door, my hand almost slid off because they were so sweaty. My friend’s dad grabbed it, and opened it for me. After I walked in I was handed a yellow and black brochure that said “Seton Academy” in big bold black letters. I found my name listed inside next to all the 8th graders on my team. It was St. Agnes vs. Marsh, and it was going to be an exhilarating game. We had worked hard all season to stay undefeated, which led us to the opportunity to play in the championship that day. I walked into the gym which was about 10 degrees hotter than outside, because of the extra bodies stacked closely together, and that’s when it started.

Growing up in small-town Alaska has its perks. My home town of Petersburg is a strong and intertwined community, where hard work, service, art, education and culture are very important. Although it was a beautiful place to grow up, life for my family was different. This is the story of my journey out of abusive homeschooling and how experiencing serious challenges in high school affected and effects my personal goal to live a life worth living and do hard things.

It was a beautiful day at Everman High School doing something I love, playing basketball with my teammates during off season. Being a sophomore, I was ready for the next season to start already. I felt that basketball gave me so much energy and ambition, so that’s why I been playing basketball since 5th grade. This day was an unexpected surprise for me and my family.

LGBT Americans make up anywhere from one percent, or three million people, to five percent, or 16 million people, of the American population. Each of these individuals has had his/her own unique journey through life. Sometimes this aspect of their identity can define their life; it can especially shape their life in terms of what they experience. For instance, LGBT teens are three times more likely to be bullied, 90 percent have been harassed at school, and more than 33 percent will attempt suicide, which is four times more than our straight counterparts. The journey through high school can be tough for LGBT students, but it can be just as enlightening, just like it has been for me.

As the ball flew through the air, sneakers screeched against the floor and the sound of the ball dribbling never seemed to halt until the referees final whistle blew, It sounded more than just the end of the game as I feel down on the court with my hands covering my head in devastation. Where then minutes felt like hours, tears covered my face and the only noise I could hear was by the other teams rout and celebration. The gut wrenching feeling hit me like a basketball being pegged at the backboard. All the blood, sweat, sacrifice and training leading up to this championship game had come to an end as quickly as it started. I could feel my comrades hands patting my back and I knew I had to somehow find my feet to show my young bloods true sportsman ship but deep down losing was killing me.

The day had come, it was finally time to go to the Orlando Convention Center for the first game. I knew it had to be game day from the wonderful smell of home-made breakfast my family always made. “Hurry up we’re going to be late,” my mother exclaimed from the kitchen. After we left the hotel for the convention center, I met up with the rest of my teammates in the parking lot. The convention center almost looked like an airport with its massive entrances and rooms on the inside. As I walked with my team to the court we played on, I began to get butterflies in my stomach. Our first opponent, the North Alabama Stars, was a very good team from what I had heard. Nevertheless, we play at our expected level of play and won 72-42. This first win in the national tournament had given my team a huge momentum boost heading into our next games. Later that day, we played another team called the Louisiana Ambassadors.

I would consider myself to be a fiction fanatic. The majority of my high school experience was spent sitting behind textbooks studying the chemistry behind how Sulfur and Oxygen interact or learning about how the colonials overtook the British. So, naturally I turned to books as my emotional release from reality. Fiction transported me to a world where the impossible was possible and forced me to channel my inner creativity. I found that the information I learned in my textbooks would sometimes ironically connect with the stories I read during my free time. I was a logical intellect while at school, but a reader who loved to dream and challenge logic.

I am Aislinn, a practically ordinary high school student trying my best to make it to my future goals. My life has been a series of obstacles that I have overcome to get to where I am today. I am a strong independent human being with the passion and skills to succeed.

I had ridden on the shoulders of my teammate’s success and in the moment they needed me most, I failed. Despite this, it wasn’t my team’s disappointment I feared the most, but it was my father, watching from the sidelines, undoubtedly shaking his head. That is what I truly dreaded. En route to our post-game brunch, Dunkin' Donuts, I sat in silence and wallowed in self-pity, angrily wishing I could have been born with the talent my brother

This school year stated off a little shaky for me. On the first day, I went to the wrong classroom- twice. That was very discouraging. When I was lost and confused I realized that there were many people around who were able to help me. I knew that I had to put myself out there and ask for help when I needed it. Having a different schedule every day was different for me. It took a week or two to really get it down and understand how to get to my classes. Also, having all of this free time is really liberating. Some people think it is dangerous to have so much time on their hands. I, however, really enjoy it. It is very nice to have time to get all of my schoolwork done and still have time to socialize and meet new people. I feel like I’m finally starting to get a grasp on the college lifestyle.

Excitement overflowed the huge locker room. My team and I had been waiting for this day since the beginning of the season. My team had confidence that we deserved to be in this game because of the blood, sweat, and tears we poured into every practice, game, and workout that winter and early spring. Lacking two victories to reach our goal, the state tournament in San Antonio, the Lady Flyers appeared as our only obstacle. I competed against their point guard since elementary. She played quickly, perceptively, and skillfully, but we had prepared to shut her down.