Personal Narrative: Heavy Metal Doors

I stumbled awkwardly as I held the door open behind one of my friends. Walking into a large matted room filled with weight benches, large football players, and screaming coaches, I acted as if I knew the ropes of everything, as that was the key to success. I joined the tiny group of much smaller athletes huddled in the corner, separating themselves clearly from the football side of the room. This was my first day of wrestling practice. I had no idea what to expect, no idea how it would challenge me, and I was only there because I heard it was hard and I wanted to push myself. What would come to happen in the next several weeks would cause my head to spin, body to be broken, and would change my entire life mentality forever.

They talked and I zoned out thinking and using my eye phone to search up news, the first thing I found brought ice into my blood, Man Killed At Fighting Arena Earlier Today, I felt dead. The fighting arena was a fast way for the poor to earn money and was supposed to be safe, no deaths ever, until today.

I had started the day early in preparation. At 5 A.M., I had woken up, before anyone in my house had stirred from their night of sleep. I grabbed a t-shirt, shorts, my phone, a pair of earbuds, and a hoodie. It was essential that I kept myself as calm as possible. I stepped on the scale, praying that I had not gained any amount of weight, it read 175lbs – this would suffice for the open weight class. The open weight class was for anyone over 175lbs. I allowed myself some food, a piece of bread and a glass of water would suffice. Three hours would pass, filled mostly with pacing and deep thought on my behalf. I would wake up my mother, who had arranged to take me to the venue, Phoenix College. The thirty minute trip was painfully long, with each mile I questioned my decisions. Was I ready? What if I got

I was running late, I had to rush from the parking lot to the check in station in the lobby of the Chicago Hilton. Once signed in and loaded on the bus, I finally had time to take in my environment. I was surrounded by wounded warriors from all different wars and I was here to compete against them. It was surreal to say the least. I was completely over whelmed with emotion and fear all at the same time. I had a little boo boo on the wrist and some of these heroes were missing limbs, or scared, would they accept me as one of their own or would I be an outcast. Only time would tell.

I was sitting in the stands waiting for the next event of the 2012 Cornerstone Day Camp Olympics. There was a frequent and growing chatter in the air. I heard one of my counselors yell something out, but it was too noisy that I couldn’t hear what was being said. The stands muted immediately. In that booming voice, she yelled again. “Who wants to run the 400 meter run? There are medals!” A draft of cool air blew across the stands and it pulled me to my

Walking out into the giant stadium felt unreal. There were rows of chairs set up in the middle of it all. I approached my white foldout chair and took my seat. I had never felt so small. Once I was seated, I turned around and took a look at everyone sitting in the stands. Even though there were hundreds of people there, my eyes immediately went to my family. Everyone was there, my parents, sister and brother, even cousins that I had not talked to in years. They were all there for me on my day. So that is when I decided to be there for

I imagined how uncomfortable and unfortunate the Ghetto was going to be because the population would increase as more Jews were being transported. My father demanded my siblings and I to pack clothes and significant supplies. I didn’t have much clothing in my closet, so I only packed 3 outfits, 2 pair of socks, 5 clean underwear and my running shoes. Attempting to think of anything significant that I would take I chose to snatch a black and white wrinkled picture of my family and a couple of snacks that were placed in the pantry. As hours passed, and my anxiousness grew, it was already the day I never thought would occur. The clock struck 4:00 and as we exited our house, all of our friends and neighbors exited as well forming a line towards the trains. As I looked back to see if there was anyone still coming out of there house, the corner of my eye captured two German officials dragging a teenager and his mom out of their house after they had been knocked out with the edge of an M1941 Johnson. There forehead had many wounds and bruises as if they were hit multiple times. I didn’t focus too much on it because my focus was already mainly on remaining next to my

As soon as the door opened, the heat hit me. It was like putting a hot iron in front of my face. But it felt even worse as there was a slight wind which pushed the heat towards me. My body was surrounded in a blanket of heat and I even started to sweat slightly. My uncle told me to wait by the lift as he went to collect the car so I wouldn’t have to walk as far and drag my suitcase along. While I waited, I took time to look around at the surroundings. I could see mountains which stretched towards the clouds and the airport behind me. There were a vast number of people walking around from their flight looking drowsy and with no energy. The frequent red double-decker bus also came and a few planes flew above my head. I didn’t even have to look, but I could hear the planes departing and arriving. The planes all looked the same in the sky, big and white with some sort of logo. During the wait, I took a few steps to take away the cramp. Although I had trainers on, I could feel and see that the floor was new. The concrete looked

Everything had led up to this moment. There were the remaining two finalists at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games, ready to risk it all. I tensed my shoulders, ready to make the final jump that would land me onto the podium. After jumping off the bed and nailing a perfect landing, I was an all American gymnast. I ran toward the makeshift gold medal, a marvelous sight made of a single dollar coin taped to a piece of yard. I looked backwards to see how the other finalist had fared, and every compelling emotion swapped places for a single word: dread. Forty minutes later, we were at JFK’s emergency center, awaiting the results of my brother’s MRI.

This was not supposed to happen; she was not supposed to be here. Things were supposed to be different. Max closed her eyes and tried to breathe, in through her mouth and out through her nose. Slow deep breaths, they were meant to be a form of calming for her. At least that was what some of the doctors always said. Screwy doctors, they never did know much.

Standing eagerly like a ferocious animal/monster, my body is pressed to the barricade. In this chaotic crowd, I depend on my friends for sanity. On my right Andrew is unnecessarily panting in his usual melodramatic ways. On my left Remi is expressing her gratitude to me for waking up early in the morning to get a spot in line. As we share a five dollar can of water, gasp for fresh air, and create resting spots on one another, the anticipation heightens. Concerts are a mixed blessing. The infinite wait brings on a sense of frustration and worry that is currently controlling my life. But in an instant, my heart beats fiercely, my eyes start to water, I raise both arms in the air, and once Drake comes on stage my worries vanish. Screaming the lyrics to the summer anthem “Know Yourself”, the crowd becomes one in a state of

The moment they shut the door and I was on 24 hour lockdown I was sitting on a flat steel bed.I Had a orange jumpsuit on looking through a square glass. I Couldn’t talk to nobody but my celly. We had to meet one another get alone use the same Restroom.My celly and I had to put up a clothes line when we had to use the restroom. When me and my celly was on lockdown we had to take bird baths n a steel sink. My celly was 6’2 and Black. when he came to my cell I asked what was he in here for he told me then we was cool. He also had a orange jumpsuit on and slept on a steel bed. Me and my celly when we went to Chapel we had to walk with a Officer to go on the 6th floor. I was on a Steel bed, sitting down reading books and my 8 by 10 cell . As

About an hour later, my mom paid the tickets to enter Saga Park . Once I tickets landed in my excited hands, I darted and bolted with all my might to the main gates. And there I am, the majestic and ravished gates of Saga Park , truly in front of my eyes. My feet took off into the crowd, ready to encounter the most gratified moment of my life. My brain, all that day, was screaming with blissfulness: “You did it, Viola! You did it!” And with that note, I felt cleansed from all the bad luck that happened to be during the wrestling season. Then I took off onto the most ferocious ride that I’ve always been wanting to ride since a toddler, eyes enlightened with delight and

As I walk up the dark, narrow stairs on the way to my multi-purpose music room I can hear my mom's bedroom TV coming through the vents located next to my bedroom door. As I turn the corner standing next to an ancient keyboard a sudden burst of light hits and I smile and embrace the warmth on my face.Then I see the two bright pink bean bag chairs accompanied by zebra print Big Joe. The pink bean bag chair at the very end off the line is almost always covered by a red and a green frog blanket, Mc Frogger, that my yorkie, Bella lays on well I mess around and come up with new songs . My Netflix is usually on so I can pass the time well practicing. Next to me there is usually a snack like an apple or a kiwi or more likely a

I looked over the shoulders in front of me and saw an array of these small, crater-like structures on the tarmac; where two people stood on each opposing side - looking down at what appeared to be a plastic cavity. No, the proper terminology was a stadium. I noticed that all of my friends stood before one and they appeared to compete for something - without me. Each clenched a colorful ejector-like device with a string attached to it. No, the proper terminology was a string launcher. I watched as a person yanked the string with all his might, releasing something. Their faces were beet red and pumped with anxiety and adrenaline as they cheered at something inside the stadium. I jumped above the crowd to see what was everyone so ecstatic about. A rotating object flashed past my field of view, inducing a sense of desire within me. I jumped again and took a closer look. It was just a mere top. No, the proper terminology was a Beyblade. That’s what a Beyblade was. Just a golf ball sized hunk of plastic yet the moment I saw it, a dark sense of jealousy was invoked in me. I desperately needed it. I desperately wanted inclusion. I cannot be a straggler. For the first time ever, the green-eyed monster found its way out of the labyrinth and took the new form of a malicious parasite, infecting me with the drug