I'd be willing to bet my lunch money that you guys want to know how I did at the math competition. Let's just jump right in, shall we?
The Monday after the competition, I was asked to stay after my pre algebra class once again. I told Mrs. Light about the difficulty I had with the test, and how I had been assisgned to doodling during the group portion. She wasn't necessarily pleased with either piece of information, yet she still had a coy smile on her face.
I apologized for letting her down and waited for her words or disappointment. Instead of berating me, she handed me a thin yellow slip of paper. Confused, I unfolded it to find my name and the number 72. I finished approximately 36th out of about 80 kids that competed in my age group.
"Was it out of 100?" I asked reluctantly.
"Well, no. It was out of 125, but this is still very good news."
"How could that be good news? That's basically failing. I knew I wasn't cut out for it."
"Nick, you had the ninth highest score from our area! This math is meant for sophomores and juniors in high school. You've done incredibly well."
She went on to explain how she knew I was just as smart as my friends from the higher class and how the competition was just more proof. Once her lesson sunk in, uh I got up and gave her a classic Nick hug. I never forgot that conference or Mrs. Light. She was the newest addition to what would become a long line of extremely influential teachers in my scholastic career. So with the scholastic year wrapped up, my mind could finally shift full focus to soccer.
Throughout the year, practices had become increasingly more intense. We had competed in a few tournaments with relatively decent success but, the summer tournaments were going to be our real test.
When the decision was made to move up an age group, sadly, we lost a few of our teammates, due to personal circumstances. Our morale took a hit, but we had to push forward. A few additions to the coaching staff were made, however. Dustin Deal and Eric Delphs were brought on to help us at practice and occasionally coach any games Rodney couldn't make. They had coached at higher levels before, so they were more than equipped to help us.
We trained harder than ever before and Rodney rode us like mules. A few of the guys, myself included, had become increasingly fond of our new coaches. Dustin was an easily approachable man with a mind for the game that would make Stephen Hawking envious. And Eric was an easy going fellow who taught us to be confident and responsible. They both pushed us in directions we needed to go, but with the right amount of force. I worked some with Eric, separately from the team, on exercises just for goalie training. My skill drastically improved, and it had to.
The teams we faced were, for the most part, fierce. But with a year of intense training and strategic coaching from Dustin, we managed to capture some #1 finishes and a few runner up performances. North Carolina, Virginia and Georgia were the states we traveled to and we quickly realized that, the farther outside of our little East Tennessee bubble we travelled, the more difficult the competition became. We lost some games here and there but, for the most part, we were very successful.
The summers I spent traveling and playing soccer, were some of the fondest I remember. The victories were great, but the time spent in between games is what I remember the most. At the hotels, we would terrorize the breakfast buffets, crash the pools, and most definitely play some soccer against the walls. These were the things that stuck with me most from those days.
Most definitely worth mentioning, is the amazing support system we had from our parents. They were absolutely invaluable and dedicated. Providing snacks, cheering enthusiastically, and occasionally coaching from the sidelines. They were absolutely incredible, and I grew to know many of them on a more personal level. I'm still very fond of many of them, to this day.
The summers I spent traveling and playing soccer, were some of the fondest I remember. The victories were great, but the time spent in between games is what I remember the most. At the hotels, we would terrorize the breakfast buffets, crash the pools, and most definitely play some soccer against the walls. These were the things that stuck with me most from those days.
Most definitely worth mentioning, is the amazing support system we had from our parents. They were absolutely invaluable and dedicated. Providing snacks, cheering enthusiastically, and occasionally coaching from the sidelines. They were absolutely incredible, and I grew to know many of them on a more personal level. I'm still very fond of many of them, to this day.
Now, I teased you with the prospect of a female, at the end of my last post, so it's only fair that I deliver. As the summer came to a close and the new school year started, I was attracted to some of the athletic events at JSMS. My best friend from my childhood, Tucker Foster had made the basketball team, so I attended a few of the games and sat with a girl I had known from elementary school, Makenzie Lilley. She was in my grade and played on the lady's basketball team. She asked me to come to one of her games, and as a friend I obliged. That decision turned out to be way more influential on my life than I could've imagined, at the time.
Today's note: When your flaws are stitched together with good intentions, you can create a beautiful quilt of uniqueness. Don't let them control you, let them become you.
My friend DJ Turner is a fantastic human being. He participates in Drum and Bugle Corps or, more commonly, DCI. He is a cancer survivor who is still going to participate in this activity. Go to his site and check him out. The activity isn't free and he could use a little help. You don't have to donate, but you could at least share his story. That's 100% free.
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