Family and Football

Two of the most important things in my life is family and football. Family and football are one in the same to me. I value them both as they have taught me discipline, respect and loyalty. In the game of football my teammates and I have built an unbreakable bond like those of brothers.

At the age of 5 my father started playing semi pro football for the Colorado Wildcats. The experience and joy I felt seeing him on the field allowed me to expand my horizons and see life in a different perspective. This made me want to better myself so that I can be a professional and make it to the NFL.

I started playing flag football in the 5th grade and continued playing to my current year in high school. My parents and family were there to cheer me in even when I did not know they plays and that made me feel great. I knew that with my family support and dedication I was going to be a success story.

I continued to practice with my dad, who taught me the game and when my freshman year of high school came I was 1 of 4 freshman students on the varsity team at Adam's city high school. My sophomore year I transferred to George Washington high school. This is where I found the true meaning of family which was a big deal for me.

Family is so important because they provide security making you feel safe. Having that support system. They will always love you, and be there for you no matter what. Having role models to show you how to act, how to carry yourself respect not only urself but respect others.

Your family provides security

Football has taught me important life lessons that I carry with me every day. I had to learn that you win some and you lose some. Losing games were really hard for me, however I learned that with sportsmanship, you shake the other player's hands no matter if you win or if you lose. You also look them in the eyes and give them the respect that everyone deserves after playing the game. Optimism is not always easy. It is very easy to get down on yourself, get mad at your coaches, or say “I can’t.” However, sports teach you that you can’t just throw your hands up in the air and give up. Never give up. That is also where confidence comes into play. I did not have a lot of confidence in myself when I first started playing contact football. I was afraid that I would get hurt. My father told me that anything can happen on the field and in life; however, if you pay attention to your surroundings and believe that you can do it, anything is possible. I had to learn to believe in myslef on and off the field. I will never forget these life lessons. They have made me a better person and shaped me into the person I am today. I am continuing to learn new lessons every day.

My mother and father always told me that school came first. My grades aren't very good. I am still learning to apply the confidence I gained from football to my work in the classrooms. I turn in my classroom assignments as I am supposed too; however, my grades have been hurt dramatically because I choke up during test and quizzes, which hurt my overall grade. I struggle more with timed tests, I know the material, I know I can do the problems, I go blank. I pay too much attention to the clocks, because I am still afraid that the clock will pass me up and I will not finish in the time allowed. I know that I must play hard on and off the field in reference to my education. I recognize that test taking may be a weakness for me but nonetheless I strive to do my best day in and day out, by taking better notes during class, asking for help when needed and seeing my teachers during breaks, lunches and after school for the assistance that I may need. I want to join study groups, tutoring classes and seek out additional resources and assistance in college to ensure that I don’t repeat the same mistakes in the past with my grades.

If being a football player is not in my future, Coaching would be my next step. I would love to be able to share the lessons that I have learned to other up and coming athletes. To mentor them on how to become good people, how to respect not just others but to also respect themselves, discipline and loyalty, and all the other great things that sports have to offer on and off the field.

I would like the opportunity to make my family proud. I would like the chance to continue to make my family proud by being the 1st out of a few generations to actually make it to college and be successful. I understand to accomplish this, it will take hard work, will power and dedicated. I am willing to do what it takes.

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