Half Hour Before Game Time example essay topic
Breaking my leg influenced my life dramatically. It began simply by playing the game I love most. Resulting in sitting on the sidelines, watching the season drift away. This experience affected my life intensely, yet still managed to make me a better person. Midway through junior year in high school, soccer season began. All year everything was going well, my year always gets better knowing soccer has started.
This was my third year making the varsity soccer team. Of course, I worked hard all through winter during pre-season to make this my best year yet. A few games into the season we were scheduled to play Adrian. On this hot muggy day, we traveled an hour in a half to play.
For me, the bus ride to Adrian was one to remember. Little did I know that it would be my last for the season. After an hour and a half bus ride, we arrived at Adrian Middle School. It was a half hour before game time and everyone on the team was excited to play. As the sun was beating down, the referee blew the whistle to begin the game.
As usual, I started the game playing defense. In the past three years playing on varsity, I had earned my spot on the field. Playing "stopper" in defense was my goal from day one, finally my junior year I achieved what I had wanted in my soccer career. In my opinion, defense is the most important role on the field. Defenders are the last players on the field protecting the goal. A player must be able to see the overview of the field to achieve the best at being a defender.
Playing defense gives the feeling of "owning" the field and having the trust of the whole team. Throughout the first half I continued to play defense as the two teams gave it their best. Meanwhile, the game was almost half way over, the score had been tied for the previous fifteen minutes. During half time everyone discussed a strategy to change the score. Then, to start the second half of the game I sat the bench. The coach had explained to me that our team was weak in offense and I was needed in that position.
Therefore, the time passed, as I had to wait to get into the game. Impatiently waiting, I finally heard the coach call my name to go in, I was replacing a forward in her position. Now, the play had begun and I received the ball. Nervously, I looked in front of me and saw no one to challenge. I knew pressure was on me to get the ball down the field and score. The score had been tied for minutes without end.
I began dribbling the ball down the field and came to the first and only person in my way. The only player I had to get around was the goalie. Their goalie was extremely tall and a skilled player. Now I was faced with the goalie one on one. Immediately, I faced the goalie and took her on. The crowd was tense and excited.
Slowly, the goalie and I came closer. Before we became to close to ruin my chance I went to take my shot. As I took the shot, the goalie slid into me and stopped my leg in mid kick. The ball was left in between us as I fell to the ground on top of her. Eventually, I attempted to get off the ground and realized I could not. As I tried to get up my leg felt numb and it was in extreme pain.
As a result, I fell back to the ground rolling and screaming at the top of my lungs. I remember the trainer and my coach running to me on the field. The trainer then cut off my sock and shoe to then see my leg was broke. Directly after, the ambulance was called.
Meanwhile, my dad came on the field to be by my side. My coach and my father were both holding my hands trying to calm me down, but calming me down was a lost cause. Finally, the ambulance arrived to take me away to the hospital. When the ambulance arrived, they drove onto the field. Paramedics came to my side to learn what had happened. I was in so much pain; they could not even move me.
The pain was so intense, my leg started to feel like it was not there. In time, the paramedics gave me morphine. They attempted again and again to get me into the ambulance. After many doses of morphine, they were able to get me onto the stretcher. I was then taken to Adrian Hospital. My father was by my side as I sat on the bed waiting to be seen.
Both my mother and brother drove out to Adrian the instant they were aware of what happened. That night I was transferred to Oakwood General Hospital to receive the appropriate care. At Oakwood General, I was notified of the surgery that I needed. My parents had made the decision to have a metal rod placed into my bone and three pins to hold it there. That day I went into surgery. To my knowledge, I was in surgery for a few hours.
Soon, I awoke to see my parents around the hospital bed. I was then in the hospital for days that seemed like months. Throughout that time, it was hard for me to eat any healthy food, move around, or even stay awake. This time in the hospital made me realize the things so many people take for granted.
I can recall the first night in the hospital feeling unbelievably helpless. Reality checks in when you depend on pushing a button to receive help to eat, go to the bathroom, or even move a pillow. Slowly days passed in the hospital. On the fifth day I heard the best news I had heard in days. My parents told me, if I felt I was ready I could be released.
That day I got out of my hospital bed for the first time in four days. My doctor explained to me that it would be hard for me to acquire my walking skills anytime soon. I was put on crutches until I was told I was strong enough to walk again. To some this up, this experience intensely affected my life and at the same time made me a better person.
Although I was excited to go back home, it was not all I had expected. When I got home, I realized I could not sleep in my own bed because I could not make the walk up the stairs. I was then confined to our pull out bed downstairs. At home, I still only ate limited food. My stomach could only handle things such as crackers or yogurt because of the vicodin I was taking. Only time could tell how long it would be until I was able to eat as I did before.
Like other things, school was a struggle too. I was unable to go back to school for at least a week. Not being able to attend school put me behind in every subject. When I returned, everything was extremely difficult.
My boyfriend and friends had to wheel me from class to class in a wheelchair, which made me feel extremely helpless. I was so behind in my classes, it took me over a week to catch up with all my work. The school situation was frustrating to beyond my belief. I never thought returning to my everyday life would be such a struggle. In short, the most unexpected things that happen in a lifetime can influence your life more than you know.