Personal Narrative: Try-Outs For My Soccer Team

Cut.
I woke before the sun had grazed the horizon, crept over and snagged my mom’s old mac laptop of the small cream nightstand. I opened it and let the harsh blue light illuminate my dark room, not expecting the glow to temporarily blind me. I quickly shut my eyes and fumbled around the keyboard until I had adjusted the brightness, and refocused onto the task at hand. Three days prior I had completed try-outs for my soccer team and today the results would be posted at 6. My alarm clock lay precariously next to my bed reading 5:45. After four attempts and misspellings, my quivering hands managed to find the tryouts results sheet. I checked the better team first, because why not be optimistic, and saw the names of my friends; Abby, Isabell, Jill, Theresa. But not mine. I must have checked that list ten
I had time that I didn’t know what to do with, my after school routine was filled with naps and procrastination. I missed the thrill of competing and working towards a goal; so, I joined swim team. After three months my chlorine allergy and I decided that it wasn’t the sport for me. So next I followed my older sister to the Cross Country Team. As her biggest fan I attended all of the races. My short twelve-year-old self would admire the tall, slim girls whose ponytails sung effortlessly in the air while their legs and arms pump furiously over hills and into the finish line. I knew this was what I wanted. So I ran; first track but then built on. My 7th grade year I joined track; and in 8th grade added Nordic Skiing. Today I find myself Varsity and Captain of all three and I have never been happier. This trifecta of cardio has become more than soccer ever was. These sports, together, have formed more than my calves of steel; they have created a new sense of identity, friendships that will last many lifetimes but most importantly shown me how much a reaching out despite failures can not only restore but improve one’s