How Water Polo Helped Me Become the Person I am by Jaqueline

How Water Polo Helped Me Become the Person I am by Jaqueline - December 2019 Scholarship Essay

When I was a freshman, I have always wanted to be part of something that would cause a big impact on my life and I just that. So, in my freshman year of high school, I decided to join water polo. My decision for joining this sport was so quick, because I had never even heard of the sport. But all I knew was that everyone was accepted the minute they joined in. Another reason why I joined was because one of my best friends at the time was doing it, and I personally thought it would be amazing to do a sport with my best friend at the time. I envisioned my best friend and I dominating the sport and being the best of the best. But that was only an imagination from my head. In reality we both got on the team, but sadly were placed on the “ B Team,” because our skills were low since we were fairly new to the sport. Once I was placed on the “ B Team,” I made it my mission and goal to work hard and to never miss a practice and I did just that. Everyday I had practice I made sure I would fully understand the drills and skills that I needed to gain. Each and every practice I went to, I felt that I was growing mentally and learning what it was like to finally to be apart of something. I also got to gain new experiences and new friendships that I had no idea that I would have. Next thing I knew once it hit sophomore year, I got an opportunity to be on the junior varsity team for water polo. It was amazing that I got to reach my goal and that all my hard work paid off. But I knew I still had to keep on working hard in order to be the best I wanted to be. I wanted to not only make the people around me proud of me but I wanted to make myself proud. So I continued to work hard, push and challenge myself. Water polo impacted my high school life a ton because I learned how to work as a team and I also learned how to work with others and I got an opportunity to understand something that I never knew before. I believe that water polo really helped me open up as a person and took it to my advantage when I was upset or stressed, I found something that made me happy in the long run.