Coping with failure is something most people struggle with at some point in their lives. Of course, it's no fun to fail, and I know I've struggled with the motivation to get back up after failure has knocked me down. However, in my time of playing high school sports, I've gained insight into how to deal with failure. As most people know, competitive sports always end one way; with a winner and a loser. I've had my share of both sweet, hard earned victories and heart wrenching losses. Those tough losses are jam-packed full of teaching opportunities. Did you know that Steve Jobs was originally fired from a head position of the company he owned before he went on to Apple? That’s a failure. But did Jobs quit when things seemed dim and bleak? Obviously he didn't, because he went on to develop the corporate beast that is Apple Inc. My senior season, our basketball team beat a rival who had beaten us for 7 years straight at our home court. It was the greatest night of my life, and after the game our coach told us, through tears of joy, that we were able to accomplish this feat because of what we learned from tough and undeserved losses earlier in the season. There were days were Coach was screaming at us in practice, days we were in the gym for 4 hours running and working to correct our weaknesses. In all honesty, those days were not fun. We endured the brutal days of seeming torture because we knew, although we had failed before, that we would have another shot, and we were willing to do all in our power to ensure that we made the most of that shot. Because of this deep rooted desire to get back up after being knocked down in the sporting world, I am able to redirect this same feeling into my schoolwork and other areas of life. Without the help of competitive sports, where sometimes you have to taste defeat, I’m not sure how well equipped I’d be to deal with the future failures of life that I know are coming.

I love sports. They are incredibly fun, especially with good friends, and they're also a great way to stay fit and active. Nothing did I love more in high school than coming home and playing pick-up basketball or football with my closest buddies. Besides my immense love for the fun and competition of sports, I have a deeper passion for these games because I know they are more than just a fun way to exercise. Had I not played sports competitively in high school, I would not be the person I am today. This is because sports can be a great teacher for those who dedicate themselves to attend it's classes. There are an infinite number of lessons I've learned from my experiences, but to name a few, I've learned patience, dedication, motivation, how to perform under pressure, how to deal with failure and come back stronger, and how to lead by example. These are all characteristics that I will try to impart on my children by involving them in sports at an early age. I have a love for the game, and I will for the rest of my life. I will be forever grateful for the experience I gained through competitive sports that I can already see shaping the man I am and will become.

About Me

My name is Andrew, and I'm a freshman at Brigham Young University. I'm currently majoring in chemical engineering. I am a huge sports fan, mainly basketball, football, baseball, and track and field. In high school, I played baseball and basketball and competed in track and field. I love playing any kind of pick-up sport for fun, but I also enjoy playing the guitar, lifting, and hanging out with friends. That's a simple introduction about me!