An experience that has special meaning to me is being cut from the seventh grade basketball team. Going into the week of tryouts, I was extremely confident in my skills and desire to play for my school. I felt that the week of tryouts went extremely well. Todd M, the seventh grade coach, was continuously praising the way I was playing and my attitude toward my soon-to-be teammates. However, following the last day of tryouts, my name was not on the final cut list showing who made the team. I was devastated and had no idea what I was going to do. .
The next year came and with it tryouts for the eighth grade team. Instead of sitting at home, allowing the previous year keep me from trying out or giving up on the sport that I love, I went to tryouts and played some of the best basketball that I had ever played. Even the new eighth grade coach was surprised to see me at tryouts, knowing that I had been cut the previous year. I was confident that I had made the team and I did. I took being cut in seventh grade and used it as motivation and inspiration for eighth grade. Over the summer, I had worked on my overall game, developed a much better jump shot, and lifted harder in the weight room. Therefore, I bulked up and developed a more consistent game. This resulted in being the determining factor for me making the team in eighth grade. Being cut in seventh grade and then going on to make the team the next year may have been one of the best experiences in my life to date. It showed me that no matter what happens, good or bad, I can learn from it and achieve success. Every time there is something that I do not necessarily think I can do, I think back to seventh and eighth grade and am able to finish it and continue.
As a result of this experience, I was able to meet and become great friends with my mentor, Todd M. Coach M. was my sixth and seventh grade physical education teacher and my Junior Varsity basketball coach at Westerville South High School.
