Pride Sample

I have played water polo for 7 years and the sport has really become something I can’t

live without. Water polo has taught me so much and I am forever grateful. I have learned to keep

my cool even when the game seems unfair, I’ve learned to persevere even when I feel at my

lowest of lows, and I have learned how to work harder than everyone around me. These lessons

from the game are responsible for my entire outlook on life, they have made me who I am; a

determined, yet easy going person with an unmatchable work ethic.

During my four varsity seasons of water polo in high school I have experienced so much.

My freshman year we didn’t win the CCC for the first time in a long time and that really wore on

me and many other players. After a summer of early morning swim practices followed by two

water polo practices I showed up ready to conquer the season. After much battling during that

season, I, a sophomore was named 1st team all CCC. I was immediately shocked when my coach

first told me the news, but mostly I didn't even know what this award meant. At the end of every

season, all of the coaches from the teams in our league have a meeting. At this meeting they

discuss and vote on who were the best players during that season. These players are separated in

to “second team” and “first team” and the last few players the picked are named “honorable

mention.” Of these, first team is the greatest honor, and once I realized that I was so proud of

myself.

I am not one that is very confident in myself, everything that I have accomplished in my

life was rightfully earned through my hard work, and it is in moments like this when I feel as

though the hard work has paid off. After earning first team all CCC my sophomore year, I went

on to earn the same honor as well as second team all section my junior and senior year. This
accomplishment was so important to me because it established a confidence within me for the

sport that I love. If I hadn't earned these awards I don’t think I would’ve had the confidence to

pursue this sport as I will in college.