It was a warm spring afternoon in May of my junior year and our gym class was up at the athletic fields. We were playing lacrosse. There was a girl who wasn't very athletic and so many kids either laughed at her or made fun of her. I heard kids yell "You suck, just stop playing!" I felt bad for her because she wouldn’t stick up for herself and she would just take it without saying anything. I could just tell by the look on her face how upset she was. She was the kind of kid who would get picked last on the gym teams and I felt really bad. One gym class I let her join my team. At this, my friends got mad because they didn't want her to be on our team because she wasn't any good. I said "It's not a big deal guys, it's only gym class." In the meantime our gym teacher was calling the next two teams to come and play. My gym teacher shouted, "Steve's team" and I went running out on the field with the girl, but I noticed the rest of my team didn't follow. I thought about how ridiculous and immature these kids were. What's the big deal? I kept asking myself. After about five minutes of the gym teacher and me nagging them to come out and play they finally gave in and we started playing. She wasn't very good at the game we were playing so I slowed down the pace of the game a little to give her a chance. Instead of making fun of her and watching her play really badly, I showed her the right way to play the game by example. The gym teacher was there to help, but sometimes it's better to hear advice or get help from a peer. If I had been a freshman or sophomore I wouldn't have done anything, but I now was a junior and wasn't just going to stand there and watch her get upset. At the end of the class a couple of my friends came up to me and said “why did you stick up for her”? I told them, “She didn't do anything to you; she's just not the athletic type.” There was no reason to do what you guys did. Put yourself in her position and tell me how you feel. It then went silent for about twenty seconds and in almost a whisper I heared, “I know”. It was a mean thing to do.” I think the kids on the team finally realized that they did the wrong thing and that it wasn't a varsity sport and only gym class. From then on she wasn't picked on as much and joined other teams other than mine as well, though she kept asking me any questions she had about sports. She gained confidence out on the field when she knew people weren't going to make fun of her.
I am the type of person who thinks that everyone should get a turn to play, especially in a non-competitive sport. If someone isn't good at something she still should have a chance to play by giving people a chance, they can learn something they have never done before. Even if it takes longer for some people to learn you have to slow down the pace so they can gain some confidence. Everyone should get a chance; whether they are athletic or not they still have the right to play and have fun. Just by giving someone a chance can change someones’ feelings or interests in sports or life in general.
I've always loved to help people out especially people younger than I am. When I help someone out I feel really proud especially when I can make the person smile. I have always tried to act the way I wanted to be treated and lead by example. Why should anyone listen to you if you can't do it yourself? When I helped this girl in gym class that's when I realized I wanted to help people and show them the right way to do things by example. Maybe if I have been a freshman or sophomore, I wouldn't have acted this way, I might have just gone along with my business, but from my junior year on I have thought about making someone happy and helping them become more interested in sports and perhaps making them a better athlete or even happier person. In the process this is why I chose law enforcement/ Physical ed. to study. In law enforcement/ Physical ed. I realize I can help people be better and maybe even make a difference in someone’s life.
I am the type of person who thinks that everyone should get a turn to play, especially in a non-competitive sport. If someone isn't good at something she still should have a chance to play by giving people a chance, they can learn something they have never done before. Even if it takes longer for some people to learn you have to slow down the pace so they can gain some confidence. Everyone should get a chance; whether they are athletic or not they still have the right to play and have fun. Just by giving someone a chance can change someones’ feelings or interests in sports or life in general.
I've always loved to help people out especially people younger than I am. When I help someone out I feel really proud especially when I can make the person smile. I have always tried to act the way I wanted to be treated and lead by example. Why should anyone listen to you if you can't do it yourself? When I helped this girl in gym class that's when I realized I wanted to help people and show them the right way to do things by example. Maybe if I have been a freshman or sophomore, I wouldn't have acted this way, I might have just gone along with my business, but from my junior year on I have thought about making someone happy and helping them become more interested in sports and perhaps making them a better athlete or even happier person. In the process this is why I chose law enforcement/ Physical ed. to study. In law enforcement/ Physical ed. I realize I can help people be better and maybe even make a difference in someone’s life.
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