Pls help critique my PS
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2016 12:50 am
“Eric, Alex, James…!” As the coach was announcing names to determine who would make the team, I stood confident my name would be called. I was seventeen years old trying out for the basketball team. Prior to the tryouts I talked to numerous friends and old coaches on how I can strengthen my skills. I worked on improving my conditioning, shooting technique and started watching film of great players. However, I did not hear my name being called that day.
As I was walking home I contemplated if basketball was in my future. Not making the high school team at 17 was a sign to try something new. But I felt as if I owe to myself to continue to peruse my passion. My city league coach once mentioned “If you want to be successful you have to embrace obstacles as part of the process.” Two hours in the gym increased to five. Working on my weakness, running, lifting and watching film became my job. I was fully taken over by the prospects of becoming a professional athlete, something I had dreamed of since I got my first basketball and never put it down. After a year and a half of focused improvement I took a gamble and tried out for College. At the tryouts I found myself with the same confidence I had two years prior only with the understanding that I am not owed a spot. Luckily my name was called and my college basketball career had begun.
Beginning in the summer when I made the honorable mentions list at the annual USC JR. College Summer Tournament, I knew my hard work was paying off. Then again at the end of the season being named a Foothill Conferences All First Team Player. The best feeling in my short college basketball career, started around May 2012 when I started to get the calls. The calls came from coaches offering scholarship opportunities to play Basketball for their school. The calls were confirmation for what my coach had told me - failure is sometimes a part of the process and do let difficulties deter you from perusing goals.
From the first practice at I noticed the difference from playing for a Jr. College. Commitment meant a day to day process with the expectation of improving every day. I was fully prepared to meet this challenge. A typical day would begin with a morning workout then classes then back for the main practice with the team, head to another class then study Hall and lastly for a night workout. It was a demanding process but the rewards outweighed the obstacles involved. However, by my junior year my sociology courses were more inspiring and fulfilling than the prospects of a career playing Basketball. I was proud of making the athletic honor roll given only a year prior I struggled to finish with a 2.5 GPA and two years prior to that it was not known whether I would graduate high school on time.
Prior to the xtryouts I made an unsuccessful attempt to join x High School sophomore team. After thex tryouts as I was walking to my car I truly considered giving up. I was overweight, not athletic and unsure in my capabilities. At the same time my guidance counselor stated at my pace I would not be able to graduate on time, (I was a year behind in credits). I leftx to attend Options for Youth. There is where I develop an intellectual curiosity and quickly began to love to learn. I was able to be recognized as one of 10 students rewarded for their academic performances with a trip to Washington D.C as a result. By my second semester my senior year I was in a position to graduate early. School had given me a second opportunity to have something to dream about, create goals around and work hard at every day similar to the way basketball had given me a purpose.
The same ambition that drove me to compete to be awarded a trip to Washington D.C, obtain a basketball scholarship and graduating on the student athletic Honor Roll will be the same drive, determination and desire to achieve something great that will push me to be a competitive Law Student.
As I was walking home I contemplated if basketball was in my future. Not making the high school team at 17 was a sign to try something new. But I felt as if I owe to myself to continue to peruse my passion. My city league coach once mentioned “If you want to be successful you have to embrace obstacles as part of the process.” Two hours in the gym increased to five. Working on my weakness, running, lifting and watching film became my job. I was fully taken over by the prospects of becoming a professional athlete, something I had dreamed of since I got my first basketball and never put it down. After a year and a half of focused improvement I took a gamble and tried out for College. At the tryouts I found myself with the same confidence I had two years prior only with the understanding that I am not owed a spot. Luckily my name was called and my college basketball career had begun.
Beginning in the summer when I made the honorable mentions list at the annual USC JR. College Summer Tournament, I knew my hard work was paying off. Then again at the end of the season being named a Foothill Conferences All First Team Player. The best feeling in my short college basketball career, started around May 2012 when I started to get the calls. The calls came from coaches offering scholarship opportunities to play Basketball for their school. The calls were confirmation for what my coach had told me - failure is sometimes a part of the process and do let difficulties deter you from perusing goals.
From the first practice at I noticed the difference from playing for a Jr. College. Commitment meant a day to day process with the expectation of improving every day. I was fully prepared to meet this challenge. A typical day would begin with a morning workout then classes then back for the main practice with the team, head to another class then study Hall and lastly for a night workout. It was a demanding process but the rewards outweighed the obstacles involved. However, by my junior year my sociology courses were more inspiring and fulfilling than the prospects of a career playing Basketball. I was proud of making the athletic honor roll given only a year prior I struggled to finish with a 2.5 GPA and two years prior to that it was not known whether I would graduate high school on time.
Prior to the xtryouts I made an unsuccessful attempt to join x High School sophomore team. After thex tryouts as I was walking to my car I truly considered giving up. I was overweight, not athletic and unsure in my capabilities. At the same time my guidance counselor stated at my pace I would not be able to graduate on time, (I was a year behind in credits). I leftx to attend Options for Youth. There is where I develop an intellectual curiosity and quickly began to love to learn. I was able to be recognized as one of 10 students rewarded for their academic performances with a trip to Washington D.C as a result. By my second semester my senior year I was in a position to graduate early. School had given me a second opportunity to have something to dream about, create goals around and work hard at every day similar to the way basketball had given me a purpose.
The same ambition that drove me to compete to be awarded a trip to Washington D.C, obtain a basketball scholarship and graduating on the student athletic Honor Roll will be the same drive, determination and desire to achieve something great that will push me to be a competitive Law Student.
for you.