My Coach by Nadine

My Coach by Nadine - January 2025 Scholarship Essay

There is a popular video game, Among Us, where players are assigned different roles and tasks to complete during the game. However, there is one person who is labeled as the “imposter.” The imposter must blend in with the other players while masking their true role. And for the first two years of high school, I felt like the imposter.

When I transferred to West Forsyth, I was shy, hesitant to join clubs, and too scared to try out for any sports teams. But everything changed my junior year when I decided to take the weight training class. Weight training became my escape, helping me constructively release pent-up frustrations and insecurities. It taught me the value of hard work, consistency, and dedication. Each workout pushed me beyond my limits, building not only physical strength but also mental resilience. It gave me the confidence to try out for other sports and helped me step out of my comfort zone. As important as the sport was, one thing I did not expect was how important the head teacher, Coach Z, would become in my life.

Coach Z was more than a weight training coach; he was a mentor, a role model, and a friend. He was the person I went to when I had a bad day or was in a tough situation. His guidance helped me grow into a stronger, and more confident person. He taught me the importance of showing up, always saying, “Whether you come in with 100% or 10%, just give 100% of what you've got.” His ability to inspire and pour into students had a long-lasting impact on my life.

Just one year later, Coach Z shared with us that he had been diagnosed with stage III colon cancer. I was absolutely devastated. It was heartbreaking to see someone who had given so much to others face such a cruel and painful battle himself. After a couple of days, I knew I could not just stand there and feel sorry; I had to do something.

I decided to start a GoFundMe campaign to help cover some of his medical expenses. Initially, Coach Z was hesitant, not wanting to accept money from students and families. But I explained to him that the campaign was not about raising money, it was a way for the community he built to come together and show their appreciation for him. Launching and managing the fundraiser was a very impactful experience and one that taught me so much. I wrote a heartfelt message for the GoFundMe page, sharing Coach Z’s story and his impact on students like me. From the moment it launched, I started to receive hundreds of messages from former students, coworkers, and members of the community sharing beautiful stories of how Coach Z had impacted their lives. Over his several years of teaching, Coach Z has impacted hundreds of kids and families, helping them grow and develop as athletes and human beings. Reading all these messages, I remember thinking to myself that I wanted to be the kind of person who impacts people the same way he did.

One of the most moving moments of the campaign was that Friday night after the campaign was launched. Members of the football team reached out to me, showing their support for the campaign by wearing “Team Z” stickers on their helmets and arms in solidarity. Watching the community come together in a way I have never seen before was beautiful. By the end of the campaign, we raised over $25,000—far exceeding my initial goal of $1,000.

This project taught me many valuable lessons that I carry with me to this day.I developed a deep admiration and respect for Coach Z- not only as a coach but as a person who saw every student as an individual. With the large classes and teams, he coached, he was intentional about recognizing each student's struggles, imperfections, strengths, and talents. His ability to connect with people and make them feel seen is something I strive to emulate in my own life. I hope to create the same sense of belonging for those around me- to ensure they feel heard, supported, and understood.

After the campaign, I had the opportunity to give back in a new way- through mentorship. I began mentoring two younger girls guiding them both inside and out of the weight room. It was incredibly rewarding to be able to pass on the same advice Coach Z had given me years earlier. I loved going to their sports games and watching them set new personal lifting records, but I have to say, my favorite moments were not the glamorous ones.

The most meaningful times were when they called me in tears, unsure how to navigate a difficult situation. It was in these raw moments when they felt like giving up and turned to me for help- that our bond grew the strongest. I knew through relationships like the ones with my mentees, that I was building a strong community just as Z did.