Personal Narrative: My Experience As A Collegiate Student-Athlete

Ever since middle school sports have always been an interest of mine. When choosing my high school the sports that were offered was one of the many things that I took into consideration. I signed up for cheer during high school orientation. At the first practice, It was a new experience for majority of the girls; we had no prior experience. As time went on, our skills increased. However, we started taking tumbling classes. I couldn 't do it. That 's when the doubts in my ability began. I embodied the fixed mindset perfectly. Dweck said “ Your ability is on the line. Can you feel everyone 's eyes on you? Can you see the instructor 's face evaluating you? Feel the tension, feel your ego bristle and waver”. I stopped being eager to learn new things , I stopped showing up and dressing for practice, and I also came up with excuses to not cheer publicly. I stayed

Throughout my years of participating in high school basketball, I have overcome many challenges. My freshmen year, basketball started in a way I never expected. Continuing on, I understood the real meaning of hard work, and what it takes. Lessons I learned in basketball will carry on throughout my life, helping me to become a successful adult.

All good things must come to an end. There will be a day, when an athlete has to stop playing ball. That transition to stop being an athlete, will be the toughest game they play. They must be prepared for the day they have to stop attending the workouts, meetings, and playing the games. Many student-athletes are depressed when they don’t make it to the pros. Studies show only about three percent of college athletes go on to play in the pros. That is why it’s important to focus and work on their relationships and to spend at much time earning the degree versus playing time. An athlete’s major provides an insight of their identity. Your education and knowledge are something no one can take from you. Many athletes go and utilize their degree once their career is over.

“Unfortunately, Jack, there will not be many opportunities for you this year.” Seconds after being told I had made the varsity baseball team, I did not expect my coach to so bluntly tell me I would be spending more time watching the game than playing it. Our state ranked team had a pitching staff full of Division 1 commitments and future MLB draft picks, and I was being told I did not measure up. The bench became my best friend.

Texas is known for its agricultural landscape but most of all by Friday night Football. In small town communities like Dimmitt being on the varsity team is a big deal.Being moved to Junior Varsity football after making the varsity team, put me in a position to contemplate my loyalty to the sport and to the coaches I felt betrayed me.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a governing body for athletes of over 1,100 colleges and universities that implemented rules and regulations for fair, friendly and safer games ("What is the NCAA?"). It was founded in 1906 when President Roosevelt was in office. The most prestigious honors, The “Theodore Roosevelt Award” was created in his name ("Theodore Roosevelt Award"). Eligibility requirements and practices were drafted in their policies. Failure to abide by them may result in loss of scholarships. Students from all over the country have dreams of playing a college sport because the chance of them playing professional sports would increase tremendously. These students have put a lot of effort and time in training for competitions in the games they play in addition to that they are obligated to keep up with their academicals. They have suffered along the way with multiple injuries that led to early retirement and shattered dreams. Even though college

Most high school athletes across America share one common aspiration: play their sport at the next level in college. For a select number of fortunate athletes, that dream becomes a reality when they commit to a school and sign their letter of intent. But are they really fortunate? College athletics are oftentimes not as glamorous as one would think. The transition to college is not a walk in the park, but add a rigorous summer conditioning program, two-a-days everyday, and the pressures of coaches you have yet to impress, and you have a recipe for disaster. What Made Maddy Run by Kate Fagan shows just that.

Kids every day, of all ages play sports, whether it be a fun game with their friends or organized through their school. Sports themselves are great, they promote countless benefits and encourage players. However, once schools get involved things change. Amanda Ripley in her article The Case against High School Sports states “In many schools, sports are so entrenched that no one- not even the people in charge- relizes their actual cost.” The academic focus of schools can shift to the athletics, with there being too much time and money being poured in it. That effort could be better spent on what the actual focus of school should be, students’ education, not training and games.

Have you ever grown to dislike something that you once loved? And I don’t mean something you liked that one day you just got bored of. I mean you loved this it was you whole life, then over time you just built up a hatred for this once great thing. For me this would be football. I still love to watch and talk about football, but I could never play the sport again. Keep in mind I finished out high school football, but I stopped liking it years ago. I think that is because during football I have built friendships and connections that will last a lifetime.

Through the adversities that accompany senior year, I have worked hard to propel my academic career, develop my leadership, and to have a successful soccer season. I recently had a conversation with the instructional superintendent, Anthony Smith, and he equated high school with a 400 meter race. As the race concludes and fatigue attacks, I continue to sprint towards my objectives. In the first semester, I applied to seven universities and I was admitted to all of them. I decided and committed to Colorado State University. As it stands I will be a first generation student. This accomplishment is meaningful to me because my parents have invested so much in me to get me where I am today. This accomplishment allows me be a positive role model

High school is a mental and social environment of learning for students, enabling for them to expand as the years go by. In high school, sports are a social aspect that allows for students to not only gain experiences but look into possibilities that are future careers. But when do sports start overshadowing academics? The article, “The Case Against High School Sports” written by Amanda Ripley, elaborates on the flawed high school system in the United States which prioritizes sports teams more than they do academics. Competitive sports should not be a part of schools because they distract from academics and cut back school expenses. Ripley argues that the American sporting tradition needs to be reevaluated as children learn “higher order skills”.

Since I can remember, my mind has been consumed and controlled by one thing and one thing only, football. Football has driven me to not only work hard to achieve my goals, but has made me become a better person, athlete, and teammate. Starting way before kindergarten, I played in a Little Tykes League where I learned the ins and outs of football. From the first game in LTL, I dreamt of playing college football and I was going to do whatever it took to achieve that goal. Although of course the game wasn’t as intricate at that age and the pads weren’t as heavy, I knew I was apart of something greater and I wanted to never quit doing it. I did everything I could to improve my skills, I started watching NFL and college football with my dad and

Children have strived for years to make their parents, teachers and coaches proud of them. Kids have come to practice Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday, and Friday to get better, while their academics are suffering. Students have pushed their bodies to the limits, causing extreme injury that will hold them back from sports in the future. Student athletes are not getting the opportunity to play multiple sports during the year, because they are expected to spelize in one sport and focus on it year round, leaving no opportunity to play other sports or do other activities. Youth sports are becoming too intense for young children to keep up with.

I am a highly motivated and competitive individual. In all areas of my life, I strive to be the best that I can be. I 've been running competitively since I was in 6th grade. Over that time, I 've ran almost 10,000 miles and have now become a 4x All American in college track and field. Though these accomplishments may not mean anything in the long run, I believe they are a good indication of my work ethic in everything I do. Being a college athlete and balancing the daily commitment of practice along with school work, is not something that everyone can do. I 've been able to balance all this while excelling on the track, and more importantly, in the classroom. In July of 2015, I was honored for my excellence as a student-athlete, by being

As I stood there in the huddle after practice breathing heavily with sweat dripping from my body I listened as Coach Hegsted gave one of his motivational talks. He was talking about how we have no reason to hold anything back or wait for someone else to get the job done. As I stood there, with coach’s voice in the back ground, I thought to myself he is right this is probably going to be the last time I pad up with this group of guys and play with them. It was this day that I had learned a very valuable life lesson that I had never thought of before.