Football Career

The song in my previous post really inspires me. Vado talks about his struggles and why he raps, and it very much reminds me of my past with football. I started playing in 6th grade for Our Lady of Calvary, a CYO team from Philly. My school was too small to have their own team, so anyone who wanted to play went to Calvary. I liked it a lot at first, and I sat the bench just as any 6th grader would. I worked hard at every practice to become a better player just like everyone else. In seventh grade I hoped to get some time, and even though I didn't I wasn't too upset. The kid that played ahead of me is now being looked at by a few top Division 1 schools. So I did just what I did in 6th grade: I sat back and watched and continued to piece together the game of football. Finally, 8th grade came. It's my time to shine, or so I thought. Little did I know, this was going to be the worst year of football I've ever had to go through. They placed a 7th grader ahead of me, regardless of how bad I'd kick his ass at practice. The coach simply didn't like me, and even worse he told me I'd never be anything involving football. This killed any pride I had and made me wish I'd never played. My dad kept telling me, "Just stick with it. Everything will work out in the end." I didn't believe him at the time. I was too pissed off at being benched for a younger kid that I was clearly better than. However, me and my shattered pride continued to work hard every day at practice and I even did some extra work with my dad on the side.
This brings me to just about present day. Freshman year I played for the high school and sat behind what was our best offensive line in years. Not only were we talented, but 4 out of our 5 linemen were over 6 feet tall. I stood short next to these guys at just a solid 5'6", so I did what I've done for the previous three years: I filled the waters. The only difference now is I got to play JV. I started Center for the JV offensive line and did a hell of a job. In fact, I impressed the coaches enough that I created myself a starting spot my sophomore year, starting over a few juniors and seniors. I did it, I'd finally made it to where I wanted to be. My fun didn't stop there, for we went on to win our third straight league title. It was my best and most memorable year of football yet. Now I'm in my junior year, and I'd do anything to have it back. Not only are we struggling as a team, but I myself am struggling as an individual player. I feel as though I'm not playing as well as I did last year. Maybe it's because of our lack of success and it's giving me a lack of confidence, maybe it's simply just me not playing to my potential. Who knows? I just wish I could go back to that feeling of greatness, where everything was perfect. I mean hey, there's always next year, right?
I've decided I want to play college ball. Everyone tells me how insane it is, and that it's like a job. Everyone tells me it takes the fun out of football, and that it sucks because you start from scratch. I feel as though that's where I'll have an advantage. I've been through it all before, and I love this sport so much I'd be willing to go through it all over again a million times more. In the end, it's all worth it. There's no better feeling than the feeling of being successful in the sport of football.