Bonner Chilton

COMM 1313 MWF 7:30-8:20

Story With a Point Formal Outline
February 23, 2015
GENERAL PURPOSE: To inform.
SPECIFIC PURPOSE: To inform my audience about the importance of confronting
problems in life.
THESIS STATEMENT:
Introduction
1. There is nothing scarier than being singled out and wanded at an airport for
setting off a metal detector multiple times.
a. With one small decision, this situation could have been completely
avoided.
b. Aside from the airport altercation, Ill explain how this small decision
also ruined something I had worked so hard to attain.
Transition: Lets begin with the problem that led to the poor choice that got
me in this situation.
Body
1. In the fall of 2011 my best friend Garrett Uekman, who was a football player
here at the University, passed away unexpectedly.
a. At the time I was playing football at Ouachita Baptist University and
the news hit me hard. I had lost someone I considered a brother.
b. Following the news, I decided to transfer here to the University in order
to be closer to family and friends, as well as playing football in order to
feel close to him again.
Transition: In fact, I was lucky enough to join the Razorbacks the following
spring, as a walk-on.
2. After a year and a half of being able to live the dream of every young boy in
Arkansas, I knew I never wanted that feeling to leave.
a. During one Wednesday practice, I felt a pop in my right ankle and
knew something was not right but I did not have any idea just how bad
it was.
b. Instead of speaking up about this, I never said a word and tried to push
through hoping no one would notice.
i. I was a walk-on. I was very disposable. My only route to playing
was to get noticed and I couldnt get noticed while not
practicing. This was also while other walk-on players decided to
sit out with jammed fingers and such.

ii. In my mind, it was better for me to try and ignore an injury

instead of seek help and be overlooked.
c. Months later, I was unable to get up off of the field after a play and had
to be carried off.
i. The injury I chose to ignore was in fact a slight stress fracture
which eventually led to the fracture of two of the three malleoli
in my ankle.
Transition: Not only was I in physical pain, but I was also hurt knowing I put
myself in this situation.
3. The end result was surgery to insert a metal plate along with five screws to
re-align the ankle.
a. Following the surgery and rehab, I spoke with a couple coaches.
i. They informed me that although they appreciate my dedication
and heart, that it may be in the best interest for both sides to
call it quits in regards to football.
b. I was hurt by that talk, but even more by the realization that I had put
myself in this situation.
i. I didnt take the problem seriously and I never considered the
long-term effects it could have.
c. To (quite literally) add insult to injury, I was going on a trip to New York
when I set off a metal detector multiple times at the Little Rock Airport.
i. I was so freaked out about having every eye around on me, I had
no idea what was going on.
ii. Security took me off to the side where I was wanded, except for
some reason it was never set off. After being questioned by
security, it finally hit me that it may have been my ankle, at
which point I showed them the scars and was allowed to
proceed.
Transition: As you can see from these examples, my decision to ignore a
small problem led to much more significant problems.
Conclusion
1. Although I tell this story through a mainly negative light, there is a great
lesson to be learned.
a. Being able to reflect back on the situation, it is very clear that I should I
have seriously weighed the pros and cons to both sides.
b. I hope that my story will help you to consider future repercussions
instead of instant gratification, not only in extreme cases such as mine,
but in normal thinking as well.
c. Take advantage of what you are given, before what you are given is
taken.