Personal Narrative: Junior High School Football

I believe that every day is training day. As a high school athlete, sports are a way of relieving the stress of everything that is going on in my life. For me, that stress is relieved is when I step out on a soccer field with my team and we play to our best capability for 80 minutes.

On February 19, 1998, I was born in New Albany, Mississippi. Three days after I was born, my family moved to Detroit, Michigan, which I think is kind of crazy since you are supposed to stay in the house after you are born.

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.

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.

One sunny afternoon on June 6, 2012 we gathered at the neighborhood baseball field in

Many individuals experience different amounts of failure in their lifetimes. Many learn and grow from their defeats and others let it keep them from succeeding.  I made sure that failure was another obstacle to success. Icons like Randy moss didn’t let failure get the best of him when he didn’t make the freshman high school football team, and look at him now, he is one of the best Football players of all time.

Adrenaline pulsing through my body and anxiety filling up in my stomach, I quickly throw on my football gear and head out to the practice field. It’s a nice hot day in Ocala, Florida, with the sun beating down on our necks, we stand side by side in line waiting to be picked to play second, third, or fourth string in a play. Waiting in anticipation, each of us grinding our teeth, watching first string pure athletes colliding against each other like gladiators to have possession of a ball made at one-time of “pig’s skin”. To some people, the game of American football makes no sense, whether it’s the idea of trying to protect a ball or running and passing it to make a goal for your team. People like this, see the concept of football and understand why millions of people love it; but to them the sport is pointless and causes way too many casualties. Coming from the most us who love the sport, it’s not the worry of getting hurt that you mainly

It was six o 'clock at the Friendswood junior high mustang field I was playing strong safety and I had to cover the extra receiver they brought out by the snap I was already beating my man and the next thing I know the ball was sailing my way straight to me. I am 13 years old and I am on the Friendswood junior high C-football team I am a second string slot receiver and starting strong safety and I 'm also a second string strong side linebacker it was our last game of the season,so we really wanted to go out on the win or a record for the season was one way in five losses and one tie,we hadn 't had a great season so we especially wanted to go out on a win. We got the ball first on kick off and we made a touchdown on the first few drives.On

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.

When I was 7 years old I went to my first high school game with my mom, the teams that played were Roosevelt and Flower. I will never forget that day Sept 8th at 8PM friday night lights. My older cousin Brett Pierce was the starting Cornerback for flowers, I admired him because he the starting Corner and he was ranked #23 in the Nation for his position. My cousin ended the game with 18 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 3 forced fumbles that was one of the greatest days of my life. After the game was over I asked my mom could she sign me up to play football, she told me I wasn’t big enough. My mother is very over protective of me since I am her only son.

On a cold, frosty, snow cover night in November at Welcome Home Stadium, was when my life changed. That night, two teams played for the chance to call themselves champions of 6th-grade football. All game, my team and I battled against the mighty Wilmington Hurricanes. We fought all game to win and finally we got the ball back with less than under a minute left and down by 4 points. The crowd was quieter than a church mouse as my coaches huddled us up during a timeout, and in that timeout, my coaches looked to me for answers. Coach Harold said to me, and the team “,Pratt” this last minute was left for you to get us this win and a championship!

When we first moved here my mom went to one of the high school football games and was amazed by the spirit of the fans. She then found out that it was because the football team had won the last two games and they are supposed to be a losing team. Also at this time my brothers and I had been telling my mom for years she needed to quit smoking which she had been doing since she was 13. So, we designed a contract. The contract stated that if the Wabash High School football team had a winning season meaning they had to win 5 games that my mother had to quit smoking. This contract was made at the beginning of my eldest brothers freshman year in 2012 and stayed on the wall in our dining room until last year. Our football team won our first 4 games

“If what you did yesterday seems big, you haven’t done anything today.” – Lou Holtz. This has always been my mindset from when I was in little league until now. Although, I have faced some adversity along the way, this quote always pushes me to do better and better each and every day.

Erik and I first met back in kindergarten playing baseball for the highly recognized Eagles organization. Erik was third base, I played shortstop, and from that point on a friendship was bonded. We both attended Cherry Hills Village Elementary School through 5th grade. Seeing how we shared all the same activities, it was hard not to become friends at such an early age. During the week we would have class, baseball or football practice, and detention. For some reason teachers and coaches were not always a fan of our jokes. As I write this, I realize my parents were probably not a big fan of them either because after 5th grade Erik went off to West Middle School (public school) and I unwillingly went off to a private middle school. From 6th

For me football is a way of life not just a sport. It’s a gateway to peace and unity. Growing up as a kid in St. Catherine Jamaica I was considered privileged to some. Why? Most would say it’s because I was born in the suburbs I went to private school but they didn’t know deep down we all have struggles within ourselves. Other kids that weren’t as fortunate as me saw me as cocky. Only time they respected me was when they saw what I can do with a ball at my feet. At the age of three I picked up my first soccer ball that’s when I found out what love was. At the age of five I saw a team in England play their name was Manchester united the manager was the great Sir Alex Ferguson I then came to the realization that they played the exact type of football I loved fast and physical with a great passing game.