There is nothing that compares to that last game. It makes no difference how exciting every other game is – that last one-it is like no other. Watching my daughter play the last few seconds of the North Half starter game was both exciting and bittersweet. Yes, there have been many games before leading up to this one, yet, this game seems so different. And, though this game starts the tournament and ends her basketball career, it still represents so much more. As we prepared to make this journey today, many thoughts and emotions probed my brain and heart. As a mother of a young child, one desires for success for this child, and that success may take on many roles. As my husband and I raised our daughter to try and try again, to not allow fear to overcome even the hint of attempt, and to always work hard, regardless of the situation, this moment actually brings about a …show more content…
When asked why she thought a speech should be given, she innocently stated that this was the last time she would ever play with her team as it looked on this night, and she wanted to know if either of the seniors had anything they wanted to share with the rest of the team. After much consideration neither senior offered any words of inspiration, consolation, humor, or anything – no words at all. As the bus rolled along on its final return route, I observed the players doing as they normally do – homework with book lights, texting to multiple parties at the same time, sleep gained, and loud, giggling episodes. Though each of the girls wears the same team jersey, each one of them is as different as can be. These differences are easily recognized, yet they somehow form glue that is impenetrable. For the three seniors this “family” will never be forgotten. Maybe those are the words that should be
To play a role given to us, isn’t fun once we learn of it, however, breaking away pushes us further into the journey. The Hero's Journey, a repetitive process that seems to be in the basic natural structure of every human, and despite any efforts are often replicating it ourselves. Following the journey is simple and sometimes unavoidable. The whole journey is mapped out by Christopher Vogler's The Writer's Journey. Then seen in Dracula, Bedazzled, and Noah. Also, in a easier way Howl's Moving Castle and The Game.
One weekend, my friend Hannah and I wanted to go on a quad ride during the night. It was during the summer and we were at Hannah’s house and we were bored. So we thought it would be a good idea to go for a ride, so we asked her step dad if we could and he said yes. We both thought it would be super fun to go for a quad ride. So, we get all geared up in proper clothing because it was cold out and off we went.
Change is inevitable. Whether it be positive or negative, change is constantly happening. More than often change can take you from the known world and spit you into the unknown, where you return a changed person. While embarking on the journeys provoked by change, you are on a hero’s journeys. The hero’s journey was popularized by Joseph Campbell. When describing what prompts hero’s journeys, Joseph Campbell said,
My freshman year we entered playoffs with a hopeful optimism that in our first year in 3A, the largest division, we could make a statement that we were here to stay. In the end, the game didn’t go our way. There were some questionable calls made but in the end, it is what it is: we weren’t good enough to win. A tough reality but often times you learn more from a loss than from a win. Sophomore
It had been a long season, many losses, but many learning moments, we were second to last in the league and only had about ten wins. The only thing we had going for us, the playoffs. We had tied the West Kent Hawks and beat two other teams 7-1 and 10-2 to make it here, and there I was. Sitting in the locker room with a blank stare and hands hanging from my chest guard, this is usually what happens before games. I was anxious to get on the ice, but neverous too, because this is how the little caesars playoffs work.
While other students were out celebrating the first week of summer, the New Albany Girls Lacrosse team was practicing for one of the biggest moments in their lives. They were preparing to compete in the Division II Lacrosse State Championship Game on June 1st. The team had one week to ensure they knew their plays, calls and were general ready for one of the toughest games of the year. Among this team there were twenty-five girls, and within this group of girls there were only two goalies. These two goalies, Kathleen Schell and Grace Anthony, had to hold the team together. Kathleen was talking to Grace before the end of practice and told her “I am really nervous, because I don’t know who coach is going to throw out there first. Also, what if
Zachari's grandmother showed the QP the court documents the probation officer left that reports he has 20 hours of community services, have no contact with the co-defendants, curfew set by the parent, and contact with his probation officer.
The ride home was long and joyless. My mom had picked Bryant and me up from our game, as well as my other friend Sam who was new to football, so we rode together. We all took the loss quite differently; as it was Sam’s first year playing, he was more frolicsome than Bryant and myself. Bryant can cope with defeat. He learned early in his life that failing or losing is the first step to success. Bryant was not as worried about the rest of the season like I was.
In 2016, more than ever, the team was committed to and had one goal of winning. One of our biggest rivals was St. John’s College High School (SJCHS). My doubles partner and I played the last match of the WCAC championships against SJCHS. During the season, SJCHS was one of the hardest competitors we faced but walking onto the court on the final day of championships, my partner and I knew we would fight and win. After 45 minutes, I hit an ace and we won the match that put us in the lead to win the championships. October 30, 2016 was the single most exciting and overwhelming day for the team all season. Everyone’s hard work paid off.
Approximately four years ago, twelve of us accepted a position on team that none of us, not only knew anything about, but also did not expect much from. We were twelve individuals that were seeking a college soccer experience at the division I level and if you ask any of those girls back then, none of them could have predicted the reality of the four years that we would ultimately spend here. This team had experienced heartbreak in freshman year on many levels, battled through the pain of losing in the semi-finals of sophomore year, and again losing in the finals last year. To be a part of this program is unlike any experience I’ve had before. There is always a supportive and positive environment; there is always progress being made every
Joseph Campbell is a leading mythology expert and philosopher who studied all myths from around the world and found the “Hero’s Journey,” a pattern or algorithm that appears in common in myth, religious ritual, and storytelling. The Hero’s Journey has three elements, separation, initiation and return. If I think about myself, coming to Hawaii by myself was a separation from my comfortable zone where I was surrounded by my supportive family. First time when I came here, I could not say anything and became quiet because I thought people would think I was a stupid and not understand me. I was afraid of how people think about my language skills. However, I tried to speak from myself, asked people to collect my mistakes, accepted what I cannot do
It was dangerous to travel at night. Any manner of beast, man, or a combination of both could apparte using the cloak of darkness. Still the merchant caravan that Cait was guarding didn’t want to listen. They seemed to be in a hurry and a bit nervous, constantly looking over their metaphorically shoulder- as if they were expecting something to be coming after them. It didn’t help that one of the other caravan guards, the Centurion, assured them that it would be fine.
Our team practiced so hard for these days, we practically lived for them. Yet as much as we lived for those one of two events we’d compete in, we hated them just as much, for we all knew that we didn’t have first dibs. We didn’t even have second dibs the coach’s favorite did, and when she wanted our event she got it, no questions asked, no explanation given. It just so happened that the coach’s favorite was also his youngest daughter, Tiffany Gehr and when Tiffany wanted something, Tiffany got it. She was your average brat and she knew it full well. She would often brag about taking our events to whoever she could.
This was a time when all of my teammates needed to show grit, endurance, and determination. We needed to persevere. As much as I wanted to succeed I was praying a ball wouldn’t come out to me as Coach Dillinger always says, “The ball should never be hit to the outfield.” The ball was never hit out to me, but a few mistakes were made in the infield allowing three runs to score, the score was now 4-3. We were down. The situation seemed a little too familiar, being we had lost our regional final game in the last inning last season. Making this loss even harder too bare. Then it hit me, we had lost the game a second time, we couldn’t do it. The crowd became silent as the realization was going through their heads, we had worked harder than ever. That game was ours.
The team was ready, we had been working extremely hard for the past seven months for this. We were all in great shape and very rested. A few of the returning players were meeting me at my house to carpool to the final game of the state championship tournament. Everyone knew that the hard work had paid off when we won the semi-final game the preceding day.