Eyes on the quarterback. Chin up, stance firm, eyes locked on the receiver. My ears are tuned in for plays. I read the offense like a book—hip movement, shoulder angles. Are they coming at me, blocking, or making a run? These split-second reads determine everything. A straight-A student who weighs 115 pounds, on defense? Who would’ve thought? The center snaps the ball. The quarterback secures it tight. The receiver comes at me head-on, holding the ball like a baby they refuse to let go. I watch their hips and close the distance. Knees bent, head to the side. They called me the “knee snatcher.” I didn’t play football in junior high. So when I asked to join my high school team as a freshman, people, coaches and students, were shocked. I was short. I was inexperienced. And to be honest, I came late to my first meeting and my first practice. I was last in every drill. Coaches yelled. Teammates judged. But I didn’t give up. Football was something I wanted, and if you really want something, no one should have to push you to work harder. I listened, learned, adjusted, and kept showing up. I treated every practice like an opportunity to grow. It wasn’t just about being on time, it was about making it count. I stayed after to train. I worked out on my own. I pushed myself in class, too. My test scores went up. My attendance improved. I became dependable on and off the field. My experience as a first time player was fun and demanding. I didn’t even know how to play football. The quarterback? The center? Defense and offense? I had no idea, but I did know one thing. I was motivated to learn and experience something new. Football wasn’t just an extracurricular activity it became a hobby, something part of my life. That soon changed my life. So when asked if I were to do football again next year I didn’t hesitate to say yes. Not every student thought I should be there but the coaches did. They saw the potential they saw my willingness to learn and adapt. The coaches saw that even though I was at a disadvantage, slower, weaker, not as experienced as other players. They could see that like metal if broken down beaten time and time again I could be forged into something greater. Football shaped my character. It taught me that you don’t need to be the biggest or the strongest to succeed, you just need heart, consistency, and grit. It taught me how to enjoy the hard work, to smile through the pain, and to stay calm under pressure. It taught me that if I want something, I have what it takes to earn it.