Stepping up to the plate by Jacob

Stepping up to the plate by Jacob - December 2013 Scholarship Essay

“Two roads diverge in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference” - Robert Frost

Last year, I was faced with an opportunity. Little did I know the decision I would make would change me and instill outstanding confidence and courage in my ability to undertake any seemingly insurmountable task. One day, at school, I was approached by a friend about whether I had heard about the school’s academic decathlon team needed one more member to complete their roster. Unsure if I wanted to take on this challenge or the responsibility of being a decathlete, I sought the advice of my older sister who had competed on the team less than a year earlier. She graduated and left a void which needed to be filled. I was a prime candidate and my friend knew this, which is why after initially trying to persuade me to join the team he kept pestering me until I finally agreed. I went to the Academic Decathlon coach and told him my interest and picked up the study materials. This decision paved the way for the exciting experience I would have in the near future.

My first Academic Decathlon competition was the regional competition. Nerves and all, I plowed through the tests, my speech and interview, and waited for the results in the awards ceremony. Not really expecting any awards to come my way since of my lack of experience, I was hardly paying attention when my teammates excitedly informed me in rushed words that I had received 3rd place in the language and literature category. I could hardly believe it and with a smile spread across my face I made my way up to the front of the room to accept my ribbon. On the bus ride home I realized that my score counted towards the overall team’s score. Only the top two scores from each division are counted, so this was an accomplishment by itself.

Our team did well enough to move on to the state competition and I was now expected to not only maintain my success but to improve on it. On a bigger stage and with the experience of the regional competition in my back pocket, I again zoomed through the tests, the speech, and the interview. With the level of competition, I again thought placing in any category was simply impossible. After the winners were announced for several categories, the music category arrived. I have played the trumpet since 5th grade and I was hoping my extensive knowledge of music theory and experience of playing music would come to my aid. When the speaker announced the winners, it took me a minute to realized he had called my name. I had again received a 3rd place finish, this time in the music category. With excited clapping from my teammates, I took the journey up to the stage to receive my medal. Again a smile spread across my face, the face of my supportive coach, and all of my teammates created a special moment and memory which I will treasure.
If it had not be for my pestering friend, I wouldn’t have had one of the more rewarding experiences I have had in my young life. This experience taught me that if you take a chance and see it through, you can expect the unexpected. In the future I will continue to take risks and take advantage of opportunities because of the success that I have ha from this experience.