Sports... More than a Game by Malcolm

Sports... More than a Game by Malcolm - May 2023 Scholarship Essay

I fell in love with football at the age of three at my first YMCA flag team. I came alive, not just because I was scoring often, but because the field felt like a sanctuary. Football has helped me become more resilient and at times, has maintained my sanity.

Playing (or even watching football) has always created a safe space to block out anything in life that was troubling. Football was the distraction I needed when my parents had domestic disputes and eventually divorced. It provided an emotional outlet and stability when my mom had to move us to another neighborhood, an hour from my friends. So, imagine how destroyed I felt my freshman year at a new school when my knee was dislocated in a game. I was just starting to feel a sense of belonging, but the surgery and physical therapy made me miss the last half of the season. I was deflated but when I was able to stand on my own, I was on the sidelines with crutches. I was showing team support but being on the field was therapeutic for me. Fast-forward to my sophomore year; I worked hard in the off-season to earn a varsity spot (at age 14). I was fully healed and practicing with the team when I got injured again. The pain was excruciating. Physically, it was the worst I had ever felt, but I also took an emotional hit once I learned I’d miss my entire sophomore season. After I cried, cursed and recovered from another surgery, I found a way to participate. I went to every game, watched the film and gave feedback wherever I could. Eventually I was able to play again and became the offensive leader on the team. I exceeded my own expectations and limitations by keeping my head in the game, on and off the field.

For some, football is just entertainment. But for me, it’s an outlet. When I get overwhelmed, I calm myself by thinking of all that football has brought to my life. In addition to good friends, father-figure coaches and lots of fun, the lessons on teamwork and perseverance will stay with me for a lifetime. I want to teach those lessons to other athletes. I am pursuing a degree in Sports Management. I want to master what goes on before/after the game (where the real power exists). Sports generates billions of dollars each year. I’d like to see that wealth more fairly distributed. I intend to be influential in helping athletes make smarter decisions that have a positive long-term impact on their performance, image, finances, personal life and community. I also want to be in the boardroom when discussions occur on everything from the national anthem and sponsorships to recruiting and safety protocols. Sports made me a better person so I am committed to making the industry better for others, in hopes that they will pay it forward and create a worldwide ripple effect.