In the minutes that followed from this heart wrenching
In the minutes that followed from this heart wrenching
As a player for the Hanford West basketball team, I was placed into situations that required me to step up and be the leader of the team. One of these situations was during a game when our most talented player had been injured. I know my teammates relied on me to be the one to look up to for all the answers. I was certain I would have to go beyond my capabilities to lead this unit to victory. The game started off horribly because of the evident lack of effort from our team. As the commander of this group of young men I knew something had to change. I stepped out of my comfort zone and became very vocal in order to get some motivation pumping through our veins. Every time my teammates made a play I would be sure to acknowledge them in some way, whether it was a high five or a nod. This made me realize feedback is essential when taking on the leadership role in order to boost self the confidence of others. As the game went on we managed to pull off an outstanding team victory.…
My first experience as a leader was during my final season on the Saint Demetrios Men’s Basketball Team. Since I was one of the better senior members on the team I became a captain. I learned to effectively communicate the player’s wishes and concerns to the…
This is my second year on the Peabody Magnet High Soccer team, and I was even awarded the Coach’s award for playing midfield and made honorably mention in my district ranking. I also am the Co-Captain of the Peabody Flag line. Being on the soccer and flag teams taught me that hard work really pays off and really forced me to challenge myself. When the flag line first started, we did not have a coach or experience. Although we taught ourselves our own routines, techniques and twirls; we placed and won a 3rd place trophy in our first battle of the bands competition. It was the smallest trophy there, but it meant more to me than any big one could. It just proved to me again that if I put my mind to something I could accomplish…
Psychological motives involve biological, social, and personal motives. In my daily life, I encounter biological motives in every situation. These are the necessities of every human being which have to be satisfied. I’ve been experiencing an intense desire for sleep because I don’t get to have enough sleep during week days due to school and priorities. There are also some instances wherein I have to deal with the avoidance of pain in order to meet success. One time, we had our project out of school and I wasn’t feeling well but we have to finish our task as to what is expected from us. I tried acting like everything’s alright and fortunately, I was able to fulfill the tasks given to me. Hunger is always part of my daily struggles. When I feel…
Unfortunately, I did not realize that until I saw my bad habits and poor choices mimicked by the players. I was under the belief that was exempt from the rules. Instead of being an example, I showed up late, wore what I wanted, and ate goldfish and chewed on sunflower seeds on the field. The young kids looked up to me, and wanted to be like me. Failing to set a positive example for the kids, I needed to humble myself and lead, instead of feeling that I was above it all. None of the older coaches called out my failure to lead by example, so I was left to find my error on my own. After seeing it in the 11 year olds, it was quite necessary to step out of my comfort zone and conform to their rules. That moment became one of the defining moments of my young life. I led by example by humbling myself and accepting my role to serve others. Not only did I act as a leader, but my attitude caused me to glow and explode with a noticeable…
Just asked the Manly Sea Eagles last weekend, who cruised to a 38-12 lead with 21 minutes remaining at Henson Park, only for the Newton Jets to hunt down the lead with five quick-fire tries, ultimately securing their position in the top four.…
The team got together the next week for the yearly season ending party. I walked into my coaches house with guilt still hanging on my shoulders. To my surprise though, no one seemed to be mad at me, even when I had lost us the game, and they had to be upset about not winning the championship title. When our captain had started to organize teams for a little kick-around session, I realized why no one was disappointed at me, or in general for that matter. It was possibly the pressure of winning or the excitement that I might finally live up to my sister’s standards, but somewhere along the way I had forgotten why my teammates and I played soccer in the first place. Although it would have been great, it wasn’t to gain a tournament title or win the game. It was because we all shared the love of the game. I didn’t need to receive a trophy or even come out with an underdog win to have fun playing soccer with some of my closest friends, but apparently I needed to freeze up to remember…
Growing up with two older siblings who were heavily involved in sports, and a father who had a passion for the coaching, I got an early taste of what leadership really means. Whether it be my brother and sister leading by example on the field, or my Dad coaching teams to victories, I learned a lot about leadership from simply observing them, and I carried those lessons with me into my own sporting career. However, it wasn’t until I tore the labrum in my shoulder at the end of my sophomore football season, that I learned there was much more to leadership than the examples I had grown up surround by.…
I Played for the same team all the way up until the fifth and sixth grade and by then I had already caught the eyes of some of the local middle school coaches. I was considered as one of the play makers on the team. I knew that I was one of the best players on my team, but I didn’t let that stop me from wanting to become even better. I still went to practice, I still ran my sprints, and I still tried to apply myself as being the best captain and teammate I could be. My mother, an…
I was in third grade when my family decided to make the move to Leechburg, Pennsylvania. Coming from a much smaller school and town, my parents decided to enroll me in the local soccer program to make new friends. My Coach, Coach Steve, was an amazing coach and mentor. He was a modest man who came from a low-class family in Portugal, soccer, however, afforded him a chance to go to college. Today, he spends most of his time giving back to the community by running our local soccer program. When I joined Coach Steve’s team, I knew he had a lot to teach, and I was lucky to have him.…
“Graduation, the hush-hush magic time of frills and gifts and congratulations and diplomas.” You weren’t lying when you said that Maya Angelou. May 19th, 2013 I had dreamt of that day for almost four years. I know I can’t be the only person who feel this way. I remember it as if it was just yesterday. So many different emotions going through my mind all at once. Happiness, Sadness, I felt relieved because it was almost over but at the same time I felt anxious and overly excited to just leave and go far away. 389 seniors were going to walk across the stage and receive their diplomas. After all, our class had the biggest percentage of graduates who were actually…
Growing up in Kokomo, Indiana there wasn’t much to the daily life in my hometown. I’d like to believe this is me telling the story of how through hard work and perseverance I could achieve my goal in high school. A goal that many told me was unachievable and stupid to pursue. What is this goal you wonder? My goal was to play Basketball at Kokomo High School.…
I remember a few months after I settled into Shanghai, my mother took me to a ballet class. Back when I lived in Australia, I adored my dance classes, so when I found out I was overjoyed. As we headed to the studio, I had on a leotard that a parent from Australia had made for me. It was a gorgeous rose pink and its nylon fabric reflected against the light, with that a smooth, lightweight chiffon skirt wrapped around my waist, below, typical ballerina tights. I steadily walked into the class in my itty- bitty ballet shoes. As the class began, I was nervous but yet a part of me was also excited. The class was utterly amazing; the room was filled with plies, tondus and grand battements. We crossed the room with jetes, a move that made me feel…
George Shirk sits in his office at the Mammoth Times on a Saturday afternoon, with his dog, Fido, who writes his own weekly column for the paper, curled up underneath the desk. Early December is the quiet time between the Thanksgiving and Christmas rushes at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, and Shirk, a 60-year-old news veteran with a sandy smoker's voice, has kindly agreed to give me an armchair tour of his adopted hometown.…
We all know the brave men and women that defend our country, we all know that the cost of freedom isn't free. We know that every day we lose more and more brave souls. We think of all these stupendous people who love their country so much that they will defend it with their lives.…