Life is comprised of a series of learning profound learning experiences. On that stands out occurred last year in seventh grade. Two friends and I decided we wanted to try something new, to learn how to play basketball! We made that decision mainly because we wanted to do an activity together for the winter term, and seventh graders didn't have the option of doing the winter school play. We were very hesitant; only one of us had any experience playing basketball, and we didn't think it would be very fun to run up and down a court trying to get a ball in a hoop. Still we kept an open mind and began to learn how to play.…
Cheer is not just a sport. It is intense physical activity with a purpose- to serve as a motivation for the team. Taking two full sport seasons, the dedication and energy required from these young cheerleaders is unbelievable. For up to 2 1/2 hours a day, they work together to achieve their goal: perfect routines to make the Hilltop Football and Basketball teams engulf in victories. These devoted cheerleaders spent 3 days at Cheer Camp and one day at the District Camp, where they expanded their knowledge and creativity for our school. However, these days spent were not for competition, but for learning from each other. Still, their natural competitive nature filled their minds and actions, self-motivating them to execute their best efforts…
In ninth-grade, I was on the C team and my basketball coach explained to me that it was because he wanted to keep me and my sister together. However, my tenth-grade season came and I was again on the C team, while my younger sister was on the JV team. I was devastated. I had never felt like so much of a failure. My younger sister was better than me and I just wanted to quit. But, how could I give up on something I had put so many years into? Then I realized that I am not my sister and her talents are not my talents. I could contribute differently from her. So, I continued to work hard and my efforts paid off. Junior year I was starting for the JV team and it was clear that my improvements are what I truly cared…
I was confined to the bench for most of my games and finished with no hits for the entire season. Teammates would cringe when they saw me step up to the plate. Instead of getting discouraged, I looked to the adversity for motivation. That summer I made the commitment to myself that I would turn Laurel baseball around.…
When I was in fifth grade I ran a 5k( 3 miles) which was a good moment for me. It was placed at NC State which was a public event for many different people to do. I went because I thought it was going to be fun with all the people I know. So many people came to the event and we all enjoyed each other. But the thing I liked was that my mom came to watch me run three miles.…
I have participated in varsity cheerleading since my freshman year of high school. Over the course of these years, I have become a leader of the team. Through these four years, our team has struggled with leadership from our seniors in addition to our coaches. My teammates naturally gravitated towards me for leadership because of my positive attitude, a quality our seniors lacked. As a junior, I became the person that everyone would come to for help because I made it my responsibility to make my teammates feel like they were in a fun and safe environment. When our practices would become hostile, I tried my best to relieve the stress of my teammates and bring positive energy. After practices, many of the cheerleaders would come to me to talk…
During my senior season I slide into third base our first game of the year and jammed my shoulder. I had to go to the doctors and they said it was very inflamed and that I would have to sit out for most of the season. Being my last year in high school that news really brought me down. When I went to the next game I realized that I could not contribute on the field, but I could have a great influence on the players in and from the dugout. I cheered on my teammates at every game and during every inning until I could finally return to play at the end of the year. That experience taught me that no matter what happens there is always another way to positively impact someone, you just have to clear your mind and…
7th grade tryouts were the first time that I actually had to try out for a school sports team, It was the most nervous I had ever been in my life up to that point. The summer that led up to tryouts consisted of throwing off that Louisville Slugger net to work on my fielding. I had made the improvements that I felt were necessary and put in the hard work that now has defined me as a player and as a student.…
Later in my high school career, now bigger and stronger, I tried out for an elite summer softball team. My new coach was unlike any coach I had had before. He would scream in my face, and point out my flaws in front of the entire team. However, most importantly, he challenged me to grow as a person and to confront my biggest fear, which is failure. He pushed me to my limits, making me want to quit and wishing I had never played the game. Despite these challenges, I persevered and became mentally and physically…
everyone is not fit to be a cheerleader. It doesn't matter if their jumps are perfect, kicks are high, and vocals are loud. If you can be leader, manage your time promptly, and take criticism you might not have what it takes to be a cheerleader. At least not an ambitious one.…
I was fourteen years old just starting my new chapter of life at Hamilton High School. I did not really know what to expect from high school but the year started great. I was having fun in my classes and made some great friends. However, I was nervous about the Varsity Golf team tryout. I played golf for about a year leading up to the tryout not knowing what to expect. I felt like I had a really great chance of making the team and join a varsity team at Hamilton.…
In seventh grade I wanted to tryout for volleyball. I was very nervous because I had never played it before. I was super happy when I found out all my friends and I made the team. We had a lot of practices in December to get ready for games in January. I was really nervous for our first game. Our first game was supposed to be right after christmas break ended, but we had a snow day so it was cancelled. I wished it hadn’t been so I could just get it over with, but i was gonna have to wait. We were scheduled for another game later that week. I woke up with a phone ringing and an answering machine saying that school was cancelled due to boiler issues. I sat in bed thinking I had once again gotten lucky and we had no game, I was wrong. We were…
I was 9 years old on a soccer team in a school called Brightwood. We have a soccer game every Thursday and Brightwood was going against a school called Truesdell. I was warming up for the game and our coach was giving a speech about our tactics for winning the game and not losing focus of the game. My coach said “today is not the day to be a star, but to play as one”. Most of the players weren't focused on my coach's speech. I heard what the coach had said, but I had my own plans, I felt excited l that this will be the game I can prove that I am a someone.…
Eighth grade year, I finally decided to take a chance and try volleyball and basketball. Although it was difficult, I went to every practice and every game willing to work hard and have a positive attitude. I signed up for club volleyball in the spring to improve…
If there's anything that I've learned in the last 16 years of my life, is that life is all about taking risks and chances. Everything you ever do is a risk, but the greatest risks that I've ever taken has been during the time that I have been a Girl Scout. For Girl Scouts, you have to complete a community service project which is also known as a Silver Award. One of the biggest risks that I faced while completing my Silver Award, was that I was recovering from multiple concussions. Concussions are extremely serious and have affected my ability to be in school for the majority of 8th, 9th, and 10th grade.…