1.6 KiB
Think of all the activities — both in and outside of school — that you have been involved with during high school. Which one are you most proud of and why?
As I read the varsity roster posted for the summer, I realized my name wasn't on the list. I knew I had to make varsity in order to keep playing for my high school’s hockey team, since I was going into my junior year. I was shocked and didn’t know what to do, so I went back to the locker room and got undressed and went home. The only option left for me to play hockey that summer was to join the team of my high school’s rival.
When I first walked into the locker room that summer, I was met with confused faces until I said my name and started talking to people. I immediately had an air of doubt surrounding me, because I was the “reject” from the school across town. In the first game, I turned that doubt into acceptance, as I played physically and set up two teammates for goals. Throughout the rest of the summer, I scheduled extra ice time to improve my skating, eventually scoring the game-winning goal against the top team in our division, as well as putting up two assists against my own high school in our rivalry game.
At the end of summer, I walked back into tryouts for my high school. All my work ended up paying off, as I made the team and ended that season with 13 points, the most on the team. The season that followed taught me that setbacks are temporary and the important thing is to focus on how one can improve. I’m proud that when I got cut I didn’t let it shape me and instead worked to earn my place.