Family by Jewelianna

Family by Jewelianna - November 2019 Scholarship Essay

At the start of my 2019-2020 school year, I was given the opportunity to be one of the managers for the Fountain-Fort Carson Varsity Football team. At the time my boyfriend was the starting quarterback, so I initially took the job to support him. The second game of the season I watched his ACL tear during a play. This was not just an obstacle for him, but for myself as well. This challenged me to come to a decision as to if I wanted to stay on the team. He was out for the season, but I did not quit the job for one reason: dedication. I was not doing this job for money, I was doing it for the experience. To have the opportunity to be welcomed into a family of coaches, players, and other managers was what kept me going. The amount of respect that this entire program has shown me, as well as the other managers, is outstanding. The coaches always tell the players, “The managers come first. You all must treat them well”, and that is exactly what they did. Every Thursday before a home game we would all gather to have a team dinner that would be provided by the mothers of the players. I loved that everyone would gather together and leaving together with food in their bellies, and with anticipation of the game the following day. There were practices that I wouldn’t want to show up to, but I knew that I had a job to do, and I chose responsibility over negligence. The games were what made the job worth the long hours of football practice each day. Feeling the rush of energy of the players when we would score a touchdown, or the sound of the crowd as we’d gain an interception. This team helped me learn that family is not only defined by blood, but by who allows you to feel trusted and loved. Being part of this team has shown me that no matter how many hardships life throws at us, we will always have each other to get through it to grow stronger as a team. This season has encouraged me to want to be a manager for a football team when I go to college. I want to give my dedication to more than just Fountain-Fort Carson. I want to contribute what I have learned to other experiences later in life.