Patience Is Key

Payton Bogatch

Mr. Bellini

Modern Classics MC Period 9

17 October 2014

        Twelve full years of soccer has taught me many life lessons, but never did I imagine my biggest one to come from the coach whose team had just defeated my own at age sixteen.  After an intense battle for first place in my state cup tournament, my team fell short of a goal in the final ten minutes. My heart was in my chest thinking only twelve minutes back to when my damp and muddy cleat slipped from under me in the wet grass causing me to fall, and merely brisk the edges of the ball as it skipped past my glove tips and find its way to slowly make contact with the white netting. I was mortified, and afraid to even look my team mates and coach in the eyes while all of us were called up one by one to receive our second place trophies.

        After all our trophies had disappeared off the table, there were still the first place prizes to give out. I look at them with envy and grief, but that faded away when the coach from the other team began to speak with such joy. I listened closely as he spoke about his team proudly, who had finally won this particular tournament after two other previous attempts at the gold in the final game each year they played. Not only had this been their third chance to win, but it was their last chance as a whole team ever because most of their players were seniors in high school who would be too old to play together next season. At that moment, I no longer felt bitter, but instead I felt a sense of ease as I looked at my team and remembered that they were mostly juniors instead of seniors. For us, there was always next season together to demolish anyone in our way of first place.