However, that senior swagger is usually aligned with lackadaisical attitudes and pure entitlement – some might call it “senioritis”— and it was that attitude that dismissed most seniors from attending mandatory practices and team workouts. That, and the fact that most of the seniors lacked the knowledge of the basic fundamentals of the game, and had never played baseball for an organized team, generally didn’t make them suitable captains.
That’s where I came in. Although I didn’t have the title as team captain, I had played baseball since I was six and I was eager to help lead my team to the success that I knew we were capable of. I was often put in charge of team workouts and spent most of my time instructing the less experienced players on the precise technique for fielding baseballs and getting more power behind their swings. We didn’t start truly playing together as a team until the end of the season, and although the team ended 4-6, a disappointing record by anyone’s standards, we showed improvement from the previous years, and I’m excited for next season.
This is sort of proof that you don’t have to have a title to make a difference. True leaders can inspire people to perform to their potential by simply putting forth their best effort, and leading by example. I was an effective leader because I never assumed I was better than any of them. Unlike my senior counterparts, I never thought I was too good for practice, and once I was able to gain their respect, I noticed a much more responsive attitude from most of the kids, that allowed us to play together as a team.
Marker; *Squeak. Annoyed. Squeak, teeth hurt.
Yours. Mine. Whats mine is ours.
Economy Politics, war? Welcome to America.
Running towards no where.. Finally stopped.
Stove, curtain, fire., crying , lost, gone.
Born 1962; cause of death: Himself
Knock, knock..(eyes roll) Hate Jokes.
To live without love is living.
My first debate tournament went well. I made it to the semi-finals – a feat deemed unattainable by someone in their first debate. In this round we were clearly outmatched. The opposing team had been debating for years and subsequently, their case was much more solid. After the debate was over my partner and I left the room immediately, too bummed out to have to stay and listen to the negative commentary. We had just taken our seats in the auditorium of about a hundred people when they host of the tournament came through the door, and gave a look of pure confusion. “Why aren’t you two up there getting ready?!” she said hastily; and all of a sudden everything changed. Chris and I ran outside the room to let loose with some giddy screaming and jumping, just long enough for us to compose ourselves and get back inside to debate.
As I said, the finals were in an auditorium in front of close to a hundred people. This was a personal test because public speaking had always been an issue for me. I knew the results would be close. Unfortunately, I lost the debate by a two to one vote; however, the skills that I gained that day had a lasting affect as I eventually went on to succeed at several other prestigious debate tournaments.
