Personal Narrative: My Role As The Assistant Captain

Four years ago I would have never expected to be a golf team captain. Due to my variety of hobbies and interests, I like to consider myself a jack of all trades so it was hard to decide on what sports to play in high school. Upon asking my father if he had any recommendations, he told me that if I could learn the fundamentals of golf I would have a tool that could benefit me for a lifetime. I wrote down golf on the dotted registration line and, well, forgot about it.

so at first I had to work through the prejudice against my age. Members that were older had a difficult time adjusting to a sophomore captain; the group did not allow themselves to rely on my abilities. I steadily moved forward to learn and gain the respect of my team and by the end of the season most had come to rely on my guidance. Leadership has affected my life the most and will continue to stand with me throughout my life. I continued leadership through my junior and

I have always strove to be the person that others looked up to. I never knew how to do that though. Until one day, one of my friends, a person I idolized, became an American Quarter Horse Youth Association Director. Ever since that moment I knew how I was going to leave my mark, and expand as a leader. Becoming someone fit enough for this leadership role was not an easy task.

I was recently elected to be the assistant captain on my Jr. Pioneers Hockey team. As an assistant captain, I lead the team on and off the ice with activities such as off ice training and representing our team. As a leader I strive to prove my myself to be an admirable mentor and example for my peers. An example of this leadership would be that I made sure to set a good example to my teammates and make it to practice even though the weather conditions made it very hard to arrive on time. Being an assistant captain has showed me that I would enjoy being a leader in other areas as

As a junior I was nominated by my teammates as co- captain of the varsity cheerleading team. Being in this leadership position was a humbling experience that not only broadened my perspective in what it takes to successfully participate in teamwork, but it developed my patience and understanding as issues and adversities would arise. Most of all, having this position tested my integrity and challenged me to lead by example. Being captain, I was automatically held up to higher responsibilities and expectations. Not only did I want to shine in those areas but in others too, making sure I was a reliable role model and leader for the others around me.

I started out as a student-athlete in which I depicted great leadership skills and positive role model qualities such as diligence, enthusiasm, and passion for the sport. Hence, after my first year of college, I was named the team captain. I worked closely with the coaches, helped to resolve team conflicts, established the tone for practice, and modeled responsibility, decision-making, and a strong work ethic. I also promoted a positive attitude and team interactions, and encouraged and supported all of my teammates. Throughout my experience as team captain, I showed mental toughness by remaining confident and focus, and respond to individual and team mistakes in an appropriate manner.

To start off, in high school, I was the captain of Football, Basketball, and Track. As captain I am held to a higher standard because the other athletes are looking up to me. That being said, if some one was messing around or not doing something right, it was my position to help coach them to do the right thing, work extra hard on the next play, or whatever it may be.

Coming from all different directions, some shots going faster than others, some harder shots than others. The only thing that can stop it is to focus and make sure you are in front of it. The puck is dropped and overtime is on its way. It's 3 on 3 hockey, the defensemen get the forwards and the forwards get the defensemen. It's a tie game, one goal will decide the winner. “Boom boom, boom boom”, my heart is on its edge pumping blood way too fast. Sweat dripping down my face, legs are shaking, the sounds of the players skates ripping through the ice, all of theses distractions are coming from different ways. But that doesn't bother me because I know that I have one goal, keep the puck away from the net. I am not alone though. My friends, the

I chose this particular activity because over the past two weeks, one of our assistant coaches has been really trying to work with us and engaging us in thinking about our teammates as a whole, rather than just ourselves. Each day, she has given us a couple quotes, and talked about leadership. She asked a rhetorical question saying, “Are you willing to go the extra mile for not only your teammates, but yourself. This to me in making me think about not only the big things that are going to happen on the court, but it’s the small things that are going to make it matter why I am performing the information she told me.

This year I was captain of the varsity cheerleading squad at my school. We trained through the summer and trained to do extensive strength and cardio training to prepare for the difficult stunts and tumbling needed throughout a routine. We began choreographing our routine in July. Our first competition was in November, but we needed to prepare for football games. So, during July and August, we really buckled down to learn cheers and the beginning of our routine to perform during halftime of the homecoming game. I prepared a cheer video consisting of twenty cheers for the girls to learn for football. They were able to learn the cheers online and then perfect them together, and it took up much less valuable practice time that we needed for our

Leadership was a word I was not familiar with when I started playing high school softball as a freshman. As the season started I wasn’t even aware that I had a role until the assistant coach said every player has a specific role that will impact the whole team as it progresses. This opened up my mind and made me realize that although I was just a young player who still needs experience in high school games. I was still being relied on by my teammates and coaches on my specific job on the field and the classroom. Although I was frightened with the role I had, I was supported by my family

Very excited to be back on the team. I hope you are also enjoying the spring holidays. Classes are getting knocked out easily. I do have a question, I forget what time my day started. I usually showed up when Graham arrived.

I was not the oldest nor the one with the most experience but I was the one my teammates liked to come to talk to, listened to, and believed in. I put a bond in our team that we did not have in the beginning. We weren’t a team when we started but by the time the season was over we were like siblings, I know a part of this was because of my leadership and how I drove us to believe in each other and support each other. I referred to my sibling earlier of how I enjoy children and helping guide them. I also feel this is a strong part of my leadership. I said that I had four younger siblings, with them and including their friends I think I have quite the shoes to fill in trying to lead them in the right direction with being the right role model. I think this is one of the biggest parts of leadership if not the biggest. I have to help the future by showing them the right way to handle and deal with things in life.

“Please, don’t go.” My best friend since middle school was asking me to do the one thing I couldn’t. “If you leave now, you won’t be captain of the tennis and debate teams. Come on man, we’ve been dreaming about this for years,” he pleaded. “Sorry, I can’t miss this. Besides, we’ll always keep in touch,” I replied while trying not let my voice catch.

In all of these activities, I have acquired many leadership roles. However, my favorite position is being the team captain on my varsity soccer team. I enjoy helping each one of my teammates to thrive as a player as well as a person. I have basically grown up with these girls so it is an honor to be able to be there for them in whatever aspect they may need.