Without My Failures, I Wouldn't Have Succeeded by Gabriel

Without My Failures, I Wouldn't Have Succeeded by Gabriel - June 2019 Scholarship Essay

My last three years has been a journey. The greatest teacher I had gave me a lesson that I still use to this day. It gave me light and motivated me to change my life around. Coming out of high school, I wasn’t granted the opportunity to play football for any schools. I proceeded to try out for the Arizona State Sun Devils only to be denied to participate in any type of workout or tryout. I was stuck. I was a full time student in a huge school. I was getting an education, but I wasn’t happy. For the first time in over eight years, I wasn’t playing football. It didn’t feel right. I talked to a couple recruiters to see, if someway or somehow, I was able to get an opportunity to showcase my skills. I was told I would, but when the time came in the spring I was denied once again. I felt defeated. I became depressed and my grades were declining. Nothing seemed to be going right.
It wasn’t until I began looking for other opportunities outside of Arizona State. I was contacting local junior colleges to see if they were hosting any combines or interested in taking me in. Still, I had nothing. However, one school decided to answer. From that moment on, my whole life changed. Phoenix College picked up the phone. I spoke to a coach and was told they were hosting a combine in a couple weeks. I got ready to the best of my ability for the combine and completely dominated when the time came. I was called a week later to join the team.
Junior college football is one of the hardest and most competitive divisions of all of college football. The reason is because there are many people that come from different backgrounds and are looking for a way out to continue their education. We are all competing with each other and against each other to earn one thing, a scholarship to a university.
The man that gave me insight that pushed me to my goals was my head coach. He spoke to the team and said, “You have to hold yourself accountable in everything you do because nobody other than yourself is going to stop you from pursuing your dreams.” He really emphasized that statement, and it has stuck with me ever since. He wasn’t just a coach. He was a father to us. He truly loved us and wanted nothing but the best for us. He made me believe and do whatever it took to get to a four-year school.
This journey wasn’t a walk in the park. There were temptations and obstacles everywhere. It seemed like everyone saw us as failures, so it was hard to go to school and play football every day when nobody on the outside wanted you. This is where I had to be mentally tough and hold myself accountable in everything I did. I went to school and all my practices. I gave my absolute best every day. I wasn’t going to let anyone or anything stop me from getting my education paid for. I was able to raise my GPA from a 2.5 to a 3.1. I showed everyone what education and football meant to me. I had many conversations with my coach. He would always tell me to keep doing what I’m doing, and my time would come. It was the belief I had in myself that kept me going.
Our team ended up with one win and ten losses. We had over a hundred players in the beginning of the season and ended with about forty. Doing everything I possibly could, and it still not being enough was the hardest obstacle I faced. All these obstacles were the reason why I succeeded. I never lost hope in my future. I stayed true to myself from start to finish. Without the knowledge of my coach, I don’t know if I would’ve made it. I took his knowledge and applied it to myself.
After my season was over, I was gifted a scholarship to pursue my dream of playing football and receiving an education at Kansas Wesleyan University. They were the only school to offer me, so I took the opportunity. That was the moment when I knew that everything I worked for paid off. As of right now, I’m still pursuing my goals and holding myself accountable. My junior college career and the people I’ve encountered will forever have a place in my heart. It was the journey and the people that made me who I am today. After my first semester at Kansas Wesleyan University, I received a 4.0 GPA. It amazes me how someone’s words can impact someone else so much. From the time at Arizona State to now, I was able to turn my life around. Through all my darkest times, I was able to find light. My failures were the reasons why I succeeded.