I played football from the time I was 8 years old through college. Football is a game that has many parallels to life. For this reason, I still love the game today. The friendships, memories, and lessons it created will last a lifetime.
The most influential moment of my life came at age 10 when I tried out for youth football for the first time. I had never experienced failure up to that point in my life, and it had never even crossed my mind that I could possibly not make the team.
About the third week of practice I got called out before it started and was informed that I was being cut. Needless to say I was devastated! I was crying and thought the world had ended. My father consoled me and let me cry and get it all out. When we were on the way home he calmly told me that I had two options. The first was to sit out and wait until next year for tryouts and at that time I would have a better idea of what to expect. The second was to go across town and ask for an opportunity to try out with them and make the other team regret their decision. At that moment we headed straight for the "other" team. After the tryout process I had made it.
So, now I am on the cross-town rival's team. I was used sparingly throughout the year and continued to improve. The last game of the season was The Big Game. We played the cross-town rival that cut me. I was named the starting QB for my new team due to my improvement throughout the year. During the game, I scored two touchdowns and we beat them. My coach sent me out to midfield to receive the trophy from the coach that cut me. It was the most rewarding moment of my life and will stay with me forever.
The game of football allowed my father to teach me that no matter what the circumstance may be and how insurmountable something might seem, you never ever give up. Hard work will always pay off! But most importantly never let anyone tell you that you cannot do something! Life is a grind and you can never give up!
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