As an athlete, there is nothing more you want than to succeed in the sport you love most. Unfortunately, life is not always in sync with your hopes and dreams. You can work an entire lifetime at a sport, that may eventually seem like it failed you, but is it really failing? Or is what you think may be a failure actually a new opportunity? This is a story of an athlete that overcame a failure in a way that is inspiring to me, and did something that I, myself, would never have the courage to do.
This athlete's parents knew they were in it for the long haul as soon as their son decided hockey was the sport he was to fall in love with. It all began with the mites; he was just a little guy on the ice trying to learn the game. He learned to skate, using milk crates on the ice, until, eventually, a stick in hand was all that was necessary. He learned all the basics, including how to skate backwards (which isn't very basic to me, but to a hockey player it is). His love for the game grew, along with his age.
As the athlete got older and his game times got earlier, the sport took over a large portion of his life and heart. He was completely indulged in this sport; it was to the point where, eventually, he started playing all year round - if that's not dedication to a game, I am not sure what is.
Myself being an athlete, I understand the love for a particular sport. It is so easy to fall in love with a competitive game, but this athlete's dedication to a singular sport was something that left me astonished. Hours of hard work and perseverance were put into a single sport, all year round. If he wasn't on the ice in season, you best believe he was trying to get on the ice during off season.
This athlete prepared an adolescent lifetime for high school hockey. He was aware of the fact that it would be different than pee-wees, and he knew he would have to work hard for everything he wanted to accomplish, and so, he did.
His freshman year of high school came around. Although he played another fall sport, in preparation for the winter, he was also playing fall hockey with a team not affiliated with his high school. When fall finished, hockey tryouts arose. This athlete had the ability to make one, or none, or three teams (JV A, B or Varsity). His hope was Varsity, but he knew his dreams were big. When the list was posted outside the athletic director's office, the athlete found his name on the list, and recognized the team in which he would play for that upcoming season: JV B. Although this was not what he had strived for as an outcome, he was not discouraged. He recognized that it was only his first year playing at a higher level of hockey and did what he could, that season, to improve his game.
A year passed and it was that same time of year again: tryouts. The athlete had been playing at a higher level for a year now, and watched the older kids. He began to realize what he needed do to attempt to be a member of either the JV A or Varsity team, but unfortunately, for this athlete, his realizations were not enough. For a second year in a row, this athlete had made the JV B hockey team.
At this point in his hockey career he wondered if the game he thought he loved was actually for him? It was. He worked harder this season, than the last. He stepped up and became a leader on this team, and increased his determination.
As a Junior in high school, this athlete was going into his third high school hockey tryout. Yet again, he made the JV team, but this time, it was the A team. This was an improvement for the athlete. Although, it was not the team he wanted, he recognized it as a step forward in the direction for success. He worked the hardest he ever had in his life this season, in hopes to be recognized by the upper level coaches.
This athlete never took a day off during the off season before his senior year. He was in the gym, or on the ice almost every single day. I have personally, never seen an athlete want something so much. This athlete had one more opportunity to make his dreams, of playing at the highest level of high school hockey, a reality.
As his senior year season approached, he knew he had no option but to give it his all. He worked hard and trained harder. As winter approached of this athlete's senior year, it was tryout time again; as much as I would like to tell you that this is a happily ever after hockey journey, it's not.
His senior, and final year, of not only high school, but also hockey, this athlete did not make any of the three hockey teams. As any athlete would be, he was disappointed in himself, but instead of making excuses, being hostile, and blaming other people, this athlete did something that not many people would have the courage to do; he became his high school hockey team's manager.
He went to every single practice and every single game. He had the mental stability to be face-to- face and help out the coach that looked him in the eyes and told him - "this is the end of the road for you."
This athlete is more than just an athlete, he is an inspiration. He went on a roller coaster of events for a single sport; he continued his journey where so many other individuals would've just given up. Giving up might've been a thought in his mind, but it was never an action worth taking.
This athlete's journey is proof that, although dreams may not always become a reality, they do make you stronger. If you can't always get what you want, and hope for, sometimes, it's time to fight for something else. Just as this incredible athlete did, you must, learn to find new opportunities through your failures.
