Good things happen to those who hustle according to Chuck Noll, but for me hustling has been just another second of failure. It was during the fall of sixth grade when I decided to try out for the school football team.
My cousin and I have been talking about trying out for the football team ever since I arrived into middle school. He eventually convinced me to try out and I started preparing for the tryouts. Once I told my mom she was elated that I would finally try out for a sport. “Great job for finally choosing to be active and you better kill it at the tryouts,” my Mom exclaimed.
“Don’t worry Mom, I will kill it at tryouts,” I uttered unknowingly jinxing myself. At that moment I felt like THE man. I have a chance of being on the school…
“Ummm ya sure I am super ready for this.” I nervously stuttered. I really tried not to show my weakness in fear of being viewed as weak, but I could not help myself. Ryan just left without a word. He probably thought I was weird with all that stuttering.
I later met up with my cousin and he definitely appeared to be a great deal more fit for football. I was just a chubby boy while my cousins tough grind really showed. Those negative feelings and feelings of doubt continued to stick with me as we rushed onto the field. My coach was ruthless compared to his personality during PE class. I felt like a little sheep while the others and the coach were hungry wolves waiting to feast on me. The first test was fitness and being the chubby boy I was, I utterly failed by being extremely sluggish and giving up after the utmost pathetic attempt to do pushups. The following test was football skills such as catching and running routes. My spirit was completely crushed at that point so I had no motivation. I also completely failed at this by having butter fingers and forgetting every single route. I felt like everyone was disappointed in me and it didn’t comfort me that the walk to the locker room and the walk home with my cousin was silent. Once I returned home, I cried to my mom because my failure and she just comforted me. I felt like a total failure and vowed not to play a sport ever…
