During the summer of freshman year, I finally was able to return to football. It did not take me long to realize that I was no longer one of the best players on the team. Being injured for so long made me slower and weaker than the rest of the players, and worst of all scared to get hurt again. Having lost the passion for the game, and realizing that I was not the player I once was, I quit and joined the cross country team instead. As the season progressed, I made great friends and developed into a skilled runner. But as I stood in the bleachers on Friday nights and watched the football team play, I was reminded of how much I missed the sport and my friends. Running helped me realize that football was the sport I loved and wanted to continue playing. That off-season I worked harder than I ever had to become stronger and quicker. Sophomore year I was able to assist my team to a six win season. The next year, we went on to have another successful season on varsity. Now, currently in my senior year, my team and I hope to win a state championship. Our coach once told us that after you play football everything else in life is easy, and I believe this to be true because of the devotion this sport requires. Football taught me to never give up even when things do not work in my direction. Though I do not