~Charlie Hood, Class of 2024
The Most Beautiful Game
Skills are cheap. Passion is priceless.
~Gary Vaynerchuk
Passion isn’t made, it’s discovered. The deep gash from life will beat you down. But under the cuts and bruises lies someone who is passionate; one so passionate they were willing to take shots blow by blow and get back up again, not because they are invincible, but because of their love. Passion drives us; passion is what makes me wake up on a Monday morning off and get in the car only to drive an hour and a half just to play a beautiful game. That game is soccer!
I raced down the sideline spraying turf at bystanders, ballistically screaming my head off for the ball. If only the left wing would pick his head up he would see my run towards goal. This was the final, all the work we put in over this tournament boiled down to this moment. Why? To win. Stepping out onto the field the familiar smell of the rubber pellets from the turf being baked by the sun’s unforgiving rays filled my nose. After a deep breath of frigid air the sharp piercing of the ref’s whistle signified the start of the second half. Gouging the last bits of sleep from our eyes, our team sprung into motion pressuring the other team trying to set them on the back foot.
The ball glistened as it got switched over to my side of the field. Pouncing on the ball pressuring the player forcing him to make a mistake. I nicked the ball off of him and drove down the sideline kicking dust at the peons behind me. Picking my head up to scan I spotted my teammate running parallel to me on the other side. I faked the shot sending the defender past me and cut it on to my right foot, crossing the ball into the box. The ball soaring through the air on a mission to find its target. My teammate in the box leaped up for the ball, extending his legs and craning his neck to make a connection with the ball. His head snapped back around hitting his forehead releasing a deep popping noise sending the ball into the back of the net. I ran to the corner flag thrusting my fist in the air in victory, drowning in passion and love.
Live for passion and your passions will become your purpose.
