Life's Rollercoaster

                The blog “Letter to my daughter (in the wake senseless tragedy)” by Vicky Bell clearly communicates that no matter what happens, its going to be ok.

Vicky mentioned the tragedy that occurred when a college student killed himself because his room mate posted a video of him having sex with another man. She used this in a positive way. The post that she had written was for her daughter (who I assume is a college graduate because of a picture). She talked about no matter how low you can get, it will always get better.

I completely agree with Vicky’s idea. There is no example of when something embarrassing happens and it never blows over. The fact is, people don’t care enough to continuously bully someone. Like in the post “People have short memories…” I don’t think people are truly that callous either. There is still good in people, but apparently not good enough to make them want to step in.

When I was in 6th grade, I usually played kickball at lunch. We had a rule about no bunting. One day, someone bunted the ball and everyone yelled at him. I argued back and said “No, it was a power bunt.” These kids thought it was hilarious that I said that. They started calling me power bunt from then on. I felt pretty low and stupid. Eventually they forgot, it took two years, but it stopped. My example is very small compared to other people, but the point stays the same through and through. There is always going to be a way to get through it (besides suicide).

I always wonder what goes on in a person’s mind that would lead them to suicide. Shouldn’t they know that there is always someone that loves them and will accept them for who they are? Every life is worth living, even if you’ve gotten off to a bad start. I guess we don’t know that we will always be able to get through tough situations with all of the bad things that can happen in life. When we make this clear to people, we can make a difference. This is why Vicky Bell wrote her daughter this message.

What don't the coaches see?

                After the freshman football game on Thursday vs. Bear Creek I got pretty upset about how the coaches don’t even know about the talent that is not in front of them.

                First of all, we lost to Bear Creek 21 to 20. That alone upset everyone. Now we are 5-1.

                A lot of people on the team didn’t get to play that game, me being one of them. I am a second string cornerback. There are about eight corners. This game and the last one vs. Heritage were disappointing to me. There are two new cornerbacks that switched over from being receivers have been corners for three days by the time of the Heritage game. We had our first string cornerbacks in and we were doing fine on pass blocking. Then, all of a sudden the coaches sent in the two corners that switched. They messed up on about two or three plays and apparently that determines that all of the corners aren’t good enough to play. The coaches moved the other two safeties in as cornerbacks. I didn’t get in at all that game and neither did the rest of the cornerbacks.

                The game at Bear Creek was very much the same. We have been working hard this past week and it is all thrown away because the receivers on the other team were tall. The safeties played as cornerbacks again. None of the other cornerbacks got in either.

                This makes me furious. I have been working hard to be able to play in these games. When the first string corners cant even go in games, what does that say for the rest of us? What’s the point of working hard when it’s not going to amount to anything? If the coaches would have left the regular corners in, they wouldn’t be having this problem. They could just be trying to cover up for their mistakes. The only time second string players are put in the game is when the score is absurdly in our favor.

                The coaches seem to make a lot of promises that can’t quite be kept. They said that they weren’t going to do the same thing they did when we were vs. Heritage. They ended up doing the same exact thing. I have lost a little respect for the coaches in that aspect.

                I also see a bit of favoritism. When does it make sense that a new cornerback, who have been practicing with us for three days, plays in a game before the second string cornerbacks, who have been playing in the position for five weeks? Again, I have lost some respect for the coaches.

                Is winning too important? When the coaches think it’s too risky to send in the “dreaded” second string, or even the first string? It’s not right in my opinion. Before the game the coaches said “Have fun.” Standing on the sidelines isn’t fun. After we lost, the coaches said “Think about what you could have done better.” I can’t come up with a way to improve how good I am on the sidelines. I just want to get out there and show what I’ve got. I know that I can do that in practice but how am I going to prove myself in games when the first string corners cant even get on the field?

                There are only three games left. I’m going to do whatever it takes to convince the coaches that the corners are big enough to handle pass coverage and that I’m ready to step it up.