Football by Alex

Football by Alex - November 2019 Scholarship Essay

Football has always been a part of my life. I can still remember the early Sunday mornings after church, coming home, shedding the dress clothes, and spending the rest of the day watching football with my family. As I grew older, I played football outside every day during afternoon recess with my friends. Inevitably we would get in trouble for tackling and, as the teacher would say, "we were being too rough." As much as I hated to admit it, the teacher was usually right. When I went to the first organizational meeting for those interested in competing in junior high, it started out as just something to do with my friends. I never really thought of it being more than just a game.
As I got a little older, I realized how much football really meant to me. I soon learned that football is more than just a game. Over the past three years I have put a lot of time in the weight room so I could become the best player possible. The weight room opened at 6:00 a.m and closed at 9:00 a.m. I made sure to arrive promptly at 5:55 so I could be one of the first people there. Over the years I have also dedicated a lot of time watching film. I believe that time spent analyzing game film is very important. This helps me prepare for the next opponent and gives me the confidence to play to the best of my ability.
On Halloween night I played my last football game as a Bobcat. It was definitely bittersweet. Even though the game didn't go the way I would have liked it to, the memories made will last forever. Being a competitive football player for six years has taught me a lot about myself. During my high school years, I became a leader for my team. I never really pictured this for myself. I knew that I was driven, passionate about the sport, and worked hard to better my abilities, but I never saw myself as others did. I admired the football leaders before me and I never pictured myself as being a leader like they were. After my last game a few of the younger players on the team came up to me and thanked me for being such a positive leader to them. This meant the world to me because I will always be able to look back and say I had a successful season. Although my participation in football and my enjoyment that I found with friends and family hasn't directly influenced my plans for the future, football has proven to me that if I work hard enough and put enough effort into something, I will always be successful.