Life Can Be a Game

The hit happened so fast. A huge noise ruptured out of my right leg, and I collapsed so hard to the ground. The pain was instant, brutal, and was everywhere, from my head to my toes. My body was tingling, and the absolute only thing I managed to do, is shout and cry in pain. As I was waiting for someone to come to my rescue, I couldn't lie still any longer. I really thought I could toughen this one off, so I got right up and attempted to walk off the field. Instantly when my right foot touched the turf, I went down, harder and faster than the first time. Now I was worried, and beyond angry. When the crowd noticed I was severely injured too, the air became completely silent and still. The pain was so unbearable; I just wanted to pass out.

Being a "big" guy was never taught to be a desired characteristic. I remember the first time, possibly the only time; a person gave me a complement about this quality I possess. Sixth grade is when it went down. It was the start of putting my unknown life dream to play; it was the beginning to the new me. I was the largest person in my whole school, I felt like a monster, but that changed the day the head coach for the seventh grade football team approached me with good news. His very words were, "You are too big to not be playing football." I will never forget this moment, because it gave me confidence and courage I never expected. After that brief conversation, he walked away without any other comments. I was overwhelmed, and did not really know what to do at first, but I instantly became hooked, and it became my dream. It was an indescribable feeling after I found out what I assumed I would be doing for the rest of my life. No one in my family had ever really gotten into sports, especially a full contact sport like football. So, I never put it to thought, but now I knew it made perfect sense. Countless times I had seen the professionals amped up, and playing their hearts out on television. It was now my turn to put my huge head covered with a plastic helmet out on the field. Football was now my only way.

August 22, 2005 was one of the hottest days of summer, and also was the first time I had ever stepped onto a football field. It was bigger and better than I ever dreamt or imagined. I remember the grass being so dry; it was almost the color of a banana. I literally had no idea what to do, and now the whole idea was going from grand, to not so promising. I was trying not to show I was nervous. I had my shoulder pads on all wrong; that was embarrassing. Then the coach opened practice with bellowing; "We have the new star of the team with us today! His name is Marwan." Now, there was even more pressure. I felt like a needle in a haystack, and I kept asking myself if I belonged there. There was not one person on the team I knew. Every boy stared at me, like I was an alien. As good as it sounded to be able to call myself a football player, I really did not know if