The Surprising Road by James

The Surprising Road by James - November 2015 Scholarship Essay

Sometimes in life you are looking for one thing and yet find another. It is best to survey the landscape and take in all the experiences, and you might surprise yourself by what you find. I knew as I started my freshman year in high school, that the majority of my time would be spent in athletics. I was fortunate to be blessed with athletic skills that allowed me to excel at just about any sport. My challenge I knew as I entered high school was time management. Attending school all day, practicing after school each day until the early evening, and finding the time to complete homework and study, after being tired from school and practice each day. All the demands and commitments that life can put on a person, it is sometimes easy to lose the perspective of what is important and who has your best interest at heart. I had to find time for balancing those items that I thought defined me or that I wanted to achieve, all the while trying to balance the coach’s expectations and my parent’s expectations.
I look back on my freshmen year, my interests, my hobbies, my friends, my value system. I knew where I was going, who I wanted to be, what I wanted others to identify me with, or so I thought. I was just another young man, who had all the answers, one eager to meet life’s challenges. I was exceling in all aspects of school that I wanted to, I was performing well on all of my sports teams, I was popular, I had a girlfriend, I had it all, or so I thought. I was making time to balance it all, friends, athletic commitments, and family events. However, there was a self-realization going on during my school journey. There was an awakening that I was coming to understand, one that I was aware of on many levels, but always told myself that’s not who I want to be, or who I want others to think of, when they think of me.
It turns out that in the frenzied pace I was keeping, life was happening. I was growing, maturing, hearing my dad’s voice in my head and his guiding thoughts he shared over my life gnawing at me. I didn’t want him to be right, my values were evolving, I was starting to show a drive, one like I felt when I played sports. I wanted to excel in this new realm, I wanted to keep getting a higher score, I wanted to surpass my peers in a new arena. It was on a playing field, that I thought was reserved for only the smart kids, I wanted to excel in the classroom. I wanted to raise my game in the academic world. This had not mattered as much to me before. I was getting “B’s” before without much effort. However, it was no longer good enough to get B’s, I wanted to also achieve successes in the classroom. I wanted others to see me as a student athlete, and not just a stereotype jock.
I knew I would need to re-balance my priorities and my value system. to enable me to continue my journey on self-awareness. I now wanted to be as successful in the classroom, as I was on the playing field. I knew this combination of student-athlete would give me the skills that would enable me to pursue and be successful at the next level in academics and in sports. Sometimes when we put in so much time and effort but do not see the desired results, it can be frustrating. I needed to ensure this letdown did not occur, that I had an approach, a plan that would allow me to grow and develop my skills, and continue my commitment. That is how I felt by the end of junior year. With a more clear and directed path, there was so much more focus and time for “student-athlete” to emerge.
My newfound academic interests and improved study habits, had become a part of my daily life. I was driven and passionate in all aspects and all my pursuits. I had become more rounded, able to take a step back in the moment while looking at the big picture. In the process, I surprised myself. I found I was always doing those things that I thought others wanted me to do. What I found, was myself in the process, and to make decisions that were best for me. I found the person, who I had become, relished the student aspect. I had become a student of life, not just in a classroom. My grades significantly increased each year in high school, and I will now be going onto college and receiving an academic scholarship, in addition to an athletic scholarship. I look forward to going onto college and continuing my journey of discovery and experiences, taking time to appreciate how I got there, but also knowing the best days are ahead for me.