Personal Narrative: The Ins And Outs Of High School Golf

It was a hot summer day in Hammond, Louisiana and I was pouring down sweat like I had just jumped in a pool. The game was just about to begin, me and my team was eagle eyeing the bomb squad. It was so quiet that you could hear your own sweat hitting the bench. The umpire broke up everyone’s concentration by saying, “play ball”! The defense had ran out on the field and I started rolling ground balls from 2nd to short-stop to third base. They had all made good throws back to me and then I threw the ball into the dug-out because the game had begun.

If I strive for greatness , or anything else I want, it can happen. If I work hard enough and get pass all the trouble that the golfers give me, I can achieve excellence. I used to not take it seriously, and let something I was told go in one ear and out the other. I realized that instead of trying so hard to, just be on the opposing team here, and have to work together to win. I honestly think that even though I had changed my attitude towards my job, my mindset was constant. It had not changed from the first time a caddyed. Since I realized this, I realized that I needed to focus more about me, than anyone else. This was very challenging because caddying needs teamwork between the caddy and the golfer. Without communication between the both of us we would not succeed and win, but not forgetting about that I need to worry about myself. I had always been taught that the cliche that the world does not revolve around me. In my head, one of the only ways to be successful, is to trust in myself and believe that I can do it, but not forgetting that there is no “I” in

Middle school is a time when kids attempt to figure out how they fit in, and that is exactly what I was looking to do when I started playing volleyball. I was in seventh grade when I decided to try out, and it was only because my best friend was playing. Little did I know just how organized and complex the game was; I just assumed volleyball was a more intense version of “don’t let the balloon touch the ground.” I never thought that I would become so passionate about this sport that it would have an impact on my character.

It was my sophomore year, and the day had come to find out who made the varsity lacrosse team. We piled into the locker room to discover rows of brand new helmets. The list of the varsity players was written on the whiteboard. The team was excited, the locker room buzzing with noise. My heart dropped as I realized that my name wasn’t written there. My friends were admiring their new helmets and I had to hold back tears and disappointment. I know now that I still had to be developed at the junior varsity level, but it wasn’t easy to understand back then. At practice that day, I played out of pure spite, every move filled with rage. You aren’t good enough, I thought. I left practice that day without saying goodbye to my friends.

I became so much better than I was the year before that I was able to join the team at districts that year. I may still had have my sister's hammy downs, but I was more confident and more skilled in the game. Each year I got better with more experience, and became higher on the list of players on the team. Sadly after a couple of tournaments during the golf season junior year, I severely injured my wrist. I pulled a tendon, had a gap between my growth plates, and lost blood flow to a bone just in one wrist. I was out of the game for six months with tons of physical therapy, but what my failure from seventh grade had taught me was not to give up. During the time of my injury I helped the team by coaching them during practice and being a cheerleader. I may not have been able to play, but at least I was there for the team and gained some more knowledge of the sport from watching. Right after my injury was healed I went right back to practice. I know have arthritis in my wrist and there are days that I can not practice because it hurts, but I pushed through it. The whole year was hard on me but I was able to make the team again. This year I am no longer in the top five of the team, but I am still able to play and help the team

With a score of 44 to 37, the Varsity Football Team won against the Midway Panthers last Friday night at Waco.

As my Varsity baseball team suits up for practice we whip out our “Easton Mako Bats” and our “Evo-Shield arm sleeves.” Everyone prepares for the season as we break in our new 200-dollar gloves. As I Un-zip my “Demarani Bat Bag” I search for the stick of eye black that seems to add spice to my game as I smother it under my eye, to “reflect the sun” of course. Our accessories become a part of our game, and we begin to value them more than the game itself.

It just always seemed like something that I had to do. Ever since I was ten years old I’ve been playing, practicing, and talking about golf. I always have had a love for the game, but I never really thought about how stressful and painful it made my life. Even at ten I thought my future had already been planned for me. I was already thinking of life as a professional golfer. I was certain that I would go play golf for a big college, and instant fame would soon follow. It wasn’t until the last couple of years that life has changed for me.

“Tweet Tweet,” screamed the birds as the sun smacked Tyler and me in the face with its Florida heat hotter than jalapenos.

One time when playing travel baseball my team played in a 16 youth tournament , and we were the only 14 and 15 year old team. We were a very small team in size and numbers , but we had a great amount of talent for our size and age. The tournament took place in Columbus Ohio. We were the only team from Tennessee in the tournament , and we worked very hard all year to make it to the tournament. We played up in pretty much every tournament all season , so we came prepared to see some very talented and big teams. Sure enough we showed up to our hotel the first day arriving and there were tons of teams staying in the same hotel , and by the looks of these teams we were by far the smallest team. The next day was the start of the tournament and we

I’m all nerves as I anxiously wait for my turn to take the first tee at the most consequential day of golf of my life. I look to my side and see my playing partners. All of them having already had big success in the game. I am very aware that each of the three guys have been in more situations like this than me and this causes stress and tension to engulf me.

After two patient years of golfing, the weather was perfect to play with. As I look over the lush green grass, my father besides me casted a shadow over me. The freshly cut grass, reminded me of possibly getting a hole in one. As I start to walk on the pathway towards hole one, I start to mentally prepare myself. “I can do it. Play confidently and play to win,” as I mumble to myself. It’s just important to be physically prepared as mentally. My dad, jokingly says, “I’ll give you a ‘gazillion’ dollars if you land a hole-in-one.” Well my dad, better get that “gazillion” dollars ready, because he is in for a surprise.

Always willing to adapt to any given situation, I aspire to make things as convenient as possible for everyone. I have been an avid team member the varsity tennis team all throughout my high school years. Consistently playing mixed doubles with my partners all being upperclassmen, I had reached the point where I became the partner-less upperclassman. In need of a new partner, my coach and I discussed potentials, but reached no solid conclusion. Aware of a new tennis team member, an incoming sophomore, my coach turned to me as a guide and mentor to help him feel comfortable.

Next we were off to the University Golf Club! It was kind of pricey to go, but we still had tons of fun trying to golf! Georgia and I have never golfed before, but Anna was a pro at it so she did WAY better than us. Georgia hit her golf ball into the lake a few times, but other than that we had a great time! After a fun day of golfing, crazy sushi places, and the Regional Park, we decided to go someplace simple and quick for dinner. For dinner we ate at Five Guys, and we all got the little bacon cheeseburger, which has always been mine and Sydney's favorite. After dinner we decided to end our day there and get ready for our next big day!

I first started playing volleyball at a very young age. I was in the seventh grade when my volleyball career started. My sister started playing in the seventh grade and I just wanted to follow her footsteps. My seventh grade year was ok because I had just started out and really didn’t know the game. There was A team and a B team, where A team was better than the B team. I tried my best to be on the A-team, but guess where I ended up, on the B team.