Soccer Nights-Personal Narrative

When I was in elementary school, I went to a summer camp called Soccer Nights. Children from kindergarten to sixth grade - separated into divisions by age - explored the basics of playing soccer, and we competed in scrimmages every night. I loved it. As a matter of fact, I would go on to volunteer at it one day. However, there was one part I absolutely dreaded.

Being the goalie.

It was the bane of my existence. It was the one thing I feared the most: even above clowns, spiders, and Donald Trump’s hair. I have glasses, so a speedy ball being kicked straight into my vicinity is not something I enjoy. Furthermore, I knew from experience how hard grade schoolers could kick when they were concentrated. My face throbbed just remembering the pain from my last gym class. A soccer ball to the face was not …show more content…
Beaming, her coach handed her a Ring Pop. They’re giving those out tonight? Those are even better than the chocolate coins! I exclaimed in my head.

I sat through similar tales of gentleness and sportsmanship, chewing my lip in anxiety. I wonder who won for the Green Division. I let a goal through, so it can’t be me…

I was jolted back to the present as I saw my coach standing up, reaching for the mic. Okay. There are 10 other people on your team. All of them played great tonight. It can’t be me, I hyperventilated inaudibly. Or can it?

My coach looked delighted. “One of our players tonight had never been goalie before. In fact, they hated it. But tonight they had a change of heart, and stepped up when everybody else backed away from the post. The Camper of the Night from the Green Division is…”

She paused for dramatic effect.

“Maryam!”

Someone nudged me up, and I stood there rooted in shock. Even though I tried being goalie for the sole purpose of this award, I never expected I would actually earn it. I staggered to the front of the crowd, still in denial. How can it be