Personal Narrative-Hiding Maize And Blue In Ohio

It’s a chilly November afternoon and I’m racing home to catch The Game. I’m thrust without warning into the air, flying backwards until finally landing on my backside. I quickly jump up to my feet and I’m face to gut with a giant. He’s painted scarlet from head-to-toe with a string of worthless nuts around his neck. He wears his jersey proud, towering over me. “O-H!” he screams in my face. There’s an awkward silence, neither of us move. He grows angry then repeats, “O-H!” Unzipping my jacket, I reveal the source of our standoff, a maize and blue Michigan Wolverines jersey. Disgruntled, the giant appears nauseous before prattling a gagging noise and storming away. Born bleeding maize and blue in Ohio, this standoff is an all too familiar occurrence. The cool months of August through December have never passed without plenty of disputes between myself and fellow Ohioans. There are few here like me, but we stick together. We wear our colors with pride. We’ve been forced to develop thick skin and we stand up for ourselves. We exemplify perseverance. When we’re faced with adversity year after year, we continue to have faith in our Wolverines. We do not abandon our team when calamities present themselves.
Overcoming obstacles and limitations set in front of me is owed to the thick skin I was forced to establish. The perseverance and determination I have obtained is applied to so many other aspects of my life. Giving up has never been an option for me. Lessons I have learned have been carried with me throughout my academic success and individual growth. I have learned to not give in to conformity. Although I am faced with ridicule far too often, I would not want it any other way. I’ve learned that it is, in fact, great to be a Michigan