Personal Essay: Lessons Learned Through Sports

That Moment That moment just before the whistle blows for opening kick-off or just before the referee drops his arm to begin a wrestling match is a moment of clarity. In that instance, I see every hour of practice, every drop of sweat, and every other person I have been fortunate enough to call my teammate. Being a varsity athlete is not a given, and I earned this honor in both football and wrestling; where my teammates voted me to be their captain for each respected season. The lessons I learned through sports are too numerous to name, but I believe that I represented myself in ways that are worthy of these honors.
I have tried many sports. Some I have loved and some I have hated. Those sports that I loved, I wished the season would never …show more content…
My dad coached me in my early years in any sport I wanted to try. With each practice he focused on the fundamentals, not winning, and constantly reminded the team that the way we practiced is the way we would play. We became teammates by working hard and celebrating the effort each person puts forth. At the end of the week, dad never congratulated us on winning, instead focused on our effort, sticking together and never giving up. As I grew up and entered high school sports, my dad could no longer coach my teams. Yet he and mom, without fail, were at every game and wrestling tournament. They never missed one! From the stands they could be heard. Never once could you hear them shouting at a referee, complaining about a call, or throwing their hands up in disgust at the score. Instead, you could hear them cheering us on, reminding us to dig deeper, to do our jobs, and give every ounce of energy we had to execute the next moment the way we practiced. Sports and building family memories are synonyms. One day I will coach and watch my own kids, and I know that I too will not be worried about the victory, but instead I will focus on the small details that make all the difference. Family taught me