EPTLast year I lived with my mom, instead of my dad, for the winter part of the school year. This was in part to play basketball down there. I was going to be playing the 3 position the next year at my regular school, and at this new school I would have gotten more experience at that position, because it was a smaller school. So I played ball down there. I was, I am not ashamed to say, and am not trying to be conceited in saying, that I was the hardest working player on the team. It seemed as though as many of the players on the team were apathetic as to whether we won or loss, or so it would seem if you watched our practices. I practiced harder than any of them, staying after practice to play, getting up before school to shoot, and giving it my all in actual practice.
However, in varsity games down there, I didn't see as much time as I would have hoped. I was limited defensively, basically I play terrible defense. I've got slow feet and slow reaction timing. My offense was great, and that is the end where I shined. I played the small forward, but was started over by a senior. The last JV game of the season, I fouled out with 2 minutes to go in the third quarter on an offensive foul. I've never been so angry. I left the game, devastated the team room, and was just overall pretty darn mad. My coach asked why I was so pissed, and I told him I didn't want to have to wait another 9 months to play ball like that again. He told me I'd start getting more varsity time.
Things didn't seem to change much. One night, we won our varsity game, but I failed to get any time. It seemed I was getting less and less time as the season went on, and my frustrations added up. I felt selfish in doing so, but I cried. I've never cried so hard. I wanted to be a better player, and part of that was getting real-game experience. So my grandpa (who was the principal of the school, and whose home I was living in) took me for a ride in the car. We talked. I remember he said, "I bet what you're thinking right now is, 'Why the hell did I come down here'" We went on talking and he could see my frustrations. The next thing he told me was, "You're facing adversity right now. This is where you develop character. It's your choice as to what you do next."
I look up to that man more than any other person. I didn't want to disappoint him, or make all my work in vain, so I worked even harder. I pushed myself, harder and harder. I began to see a little more time, still probably not as much as I would have liked. And in the end, we lost in the second round of the state championship. Our season was over, and I'd be leaving home the next day.
The following day, I went to school to get my things and say goodbye to my friends. I hear my coach's voice over the PA telling me to come to his office. I go in and sit down. He says, "John (name changed), I'm so sorry about this season. I know you're frustrated with me and this team, but I want you to know, you have the heart of a lion."
Needless to say, that hit me pretty hard. It's one of the biggest compliments I've ever received.
Situations this year prevented me from playing ball at my regular school. Now it feels as though I can't show the heart that I have. I work hard in my studies, but I don't feel like that's good enough. I want to make my heart show. I don't know what will do it, service, volunteer work, I dunno, those are the only things I can think of.
What do you do to show your heart?
