Jazo and Arballo 1

Julie Arballo and David Jazo

Mrs. Storer

English 3 Honors American Literature Block 4

October 2, 2019

Failure is not an Option

Shawn Cannon sits at his desk as the teacher walks around passing out graded test papers from
last class.

Shawn is wearing loose black jeans, brand new expensive Jordan’s, and a zip up hoodie. He is a
senior at Whitehall High School. He sits slouched in his chair, with his hood over his head, while
he scrolls through Instagram. The teacher walks by and puts Shawn’s test on his desk face
down.

Teacher: Shawn see me after class.

Shawn rolls his eyes and sighs. The bell rings, everyone leaves, and Shawn walks up to the
teacher’s desk.

Teacher: Shawn you have failed every test this semester and you have an F in this class. I am
starting to think you don’t care about my class.

Shawn: Well there is no point in studying when I must go to football practice every day after
school. And plus, what’s the point when I have D1 full ride offers from everywhere. This stupid
class doesn’t mean anything to me. I play football because I was never good in the classroom,
and I never will be.

Teacher: I can’t help you if you don’t care about your education. Sighs have a good day Shawn.

He walks out nonchalantly. To go talk to his friend Cam.

Cam: What’s up Shawn! What was that all about?

Cam has been Shawn's friend for a couple of years now. He is short and stocky and is on the
wrestling team. He’s on of Shawn’s biggest supporters.

Shawn starting to laugh: Ah nothing she was just tripping about my grade, no big deal.

Cam: Yea that teachers crazy, so Shawn are you gonna win the game for us tonight?

Shawn: You already know I'm going to carry this team to victory. Just wait on it, I’m gonna get
at least 5 touchdowns. And some D1 college coaches are coming to watch me so you know I
must ball out today. But I gotta go get ready for the game I’ll see you later man.
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Cam: Good luck today, see you on the field. Shakes Shawn’s hand and walks away.

It is now 7:00pm and Whitehall is about to kick off. They are playing at Whitehall High School
against the Vikings. It is dark outside, but the field lights make it seem like it is daytime.
Whitehall is pumped up ready to play their hearts out.

Shawn: Hey Coach D, you already know I’m going off today. Allentown Central Catholic ain’t
got nobody that’s going to stop me. He speaks with the utmost confidence.

Coach D: Don’t get cocky Shawn. Allentown Central Catholic is going to come out fighting, so
don’t expect them to just fold. They’re going to hit you hard.

Coach D is a huge man, he is a tough guy but is an advocate for his students.

Shawn laughing: Man coach, I got you. Don’t even trip. Just hand me the ball and we’ll have this
dub in no time.

The Vikings kick it off to Shawn. Shawn returns the ball out to the 50. Whitehall’s quarterback,
Luke, Shawn, and the rest of the offense takes the field.

Luke: Alright listen up. East right tight alert 24 belly. Shawn, do your thing brother.

Shawn: Let's do this boys.

The teams gets pumped up and into position ready to go

Shawn takes the handoff and hits it right up the gut, just as he has countless times
before. Although, this time, he went down fast: WATTA?! AHHHHHHH!!!! TRAINER!
AHHHH CRAP! TRAINERRRRR!!!!

Luke sprints as fast as he can to help Shawn

Luke: Hey Shawn you okay buddy? He instantly looked down at Shawn’s legs to see a white
thing sticking out of Shawn’s leg. Holy… he falls to the turf unconsciously

Shawn gets scared by Luke’s reaction and looks down at the wound.

Shawn: What? What is it! He too passes out instantly.

The rest of the night was a blur. He was escorted to the ER, where he was given emergency
surgery. It was 2:00 pm the next day. Shawn and his mother can finally settle in a small room. I
was cold Shawn layed covered with blankets. The T.V. was on, even though no one was watching
it. Shawn was just regaining consciousness.

Mama excitedly: Shawn? Are you awake?

Shawn’s mama is by far the most caring woman he had ever met. She didn't say much but when
she did, it was worth listening to. She worked very hard to give her son the best life possible, she
had no one to rely on ever since Shawn's dad left. She wore simple clothes, shirts and jeans most
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of the time. Shawn would give the whole world to his mom if he could, all he wanted to do was
make her happy.

Shawn barely opening his eyes: Huh? Yea mama. What’s going on?

Mama hesitantly: It’s okay son, everything is going to be okay?

Shawn still drowsy: What are you talking about mama?

There is a knock at the door.

Mama: Come on in.

In walks Doctor Chadwell, an average sized man. He is wearing a nice button up shirt with gray
tie and black slacks, over this he wore a white lab coat. Doctor Chadwell is a nice man but he is
assertive because he likes to get straight to the facts.

Doctor Chadwell speaking in an authoritative manner: Hello Shawn, my name is Doctor

Chadwell and I have been taking care of you these past few days.

Shawn: Thanks Doc, I just want to know if I'm gonna be okay to get back in the game this
season.

Doctor Chadwell takes a breath of discomfort: Hey son. I know this is going to be hard for you
to hear but, you are never going to play another game of football again. You have a metal plate
in your leg with screws holding it together, and we managed to stabilize you enough to repair
your artery.

Shawn sit silently for a minute trying to comprehend what the doctor is trying to tell him.
Shawn’s leg had been snapped in half. One of the Vikings hit Shawn hard in the leg.
Undenounced to him, he had broken his fibula, punctured an artery, and fractured his tibia
because his fibula had run into it. He knows in his mind that this is just a bad dream.

Shawn speaking in great distress: No that's impossible! If I can't play, I have no future!

Doctor Chadwell: I’m sorry son. I’ll leave you two to gather your thoughts.

Mama: Sobbing Son, I… I don’t know what to say. I… I’m so sorry honey.

Shawn, in disbelief, has now words for what just happened. He remains silent for the next 3
weeks; doesn’t say a word to anybody. He even skips Church because he questions whether God
is with him or not. He has no idea what to do in life. All he’s ever wanted was to get out of the
ghetto and become a star in the NFL, where he’d earn the money he needed to ensure him and
his mom would never have to struggle financially ever again, since she was a single mom raising
4 children. He knew that dream was no longer a reality. It had slipped from his grasp. He knew
applying to college wasn’t in his repertoire either, for he barely passed any class, barely doing
enough to stay eligible to play football. But now what? What was he to do? His scholarships
were gone, all 11 of them, gone! His worst fear had surfaced… failure.
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It is early in the morning; Shawn sits alone in an empty Church. He finally managed to get
himself out of bed 4 weeks post-surgery and he grew very angry at everyone, even God.

Shawn in tears of anger: Why God? WHY ME?!?!?! Out of everybody that this could’ve
happened to, ME?! I’m going to kill myself. You hear me?! I’M GOING TO KILL MYSELF!

The pastor Father Mark enters from the from the side of Church.

Father Mark looking concerned: Shawn? What seems to be the problem buddy? Are you doing
okay?

Father Mark is wearing all black with a white priest's collar. He is about 6’2 with a kind smile.
He is a very quiet and understanding man. He realizes the young man in distress is Shawn and
grows very concerned for him.

Shawn resentfully: No, I am not okay Father Mark! In a softer tone. My life is over, its ruined, I
don’t know what to do, I’m lost.

Father Mark shocked by these words: Over? What? How is your life over? Are you dying? Is
someone you love dying?

Shawn: No! With tears running down his face, I got hurt in a game last month and I can’t play
football anymore. I lost all my scholarships. All 35 of them. Nobody wants me anymore. Now I
have no chance of getting into college.

Father Mark: It will be okay Shawn. I know what you’re going through must be harder than
anything I’ve ever experienced. Trust in God, and he will guide you on the journey he has sent
you down to fulfill. Although it may seem like life itself is not worth living anymore, you have
your whole life ahead of you.

Shawn: Man, I don’t want to hear all that! I was supposed to put on for my city. I was supposed
to be the reason my family got out of the ghetto. All those years of training; blood, sweat, and
tears. For what?! God isn’t with me. No. If he were with me, he would’ve protected me!

Shawn sulks for the rest of the football season, as his team goes 4-6 without him. He spends most
nights inside and hardly converses with anybody anymore, even his teammates, close friends,
and coaches. He spends those nights pondering what to do with his life. It keeps him up at night.
He is a fish out of water. He falls into a depression, inconsolable by anyone who tries to help in.
This sadness turns into anger and Shawn’s whole demeanor is changed.

Shawn lays on his bed face up with a football in his hands, when his mom walks in with a plate
of food.

Mama in a concerned tone: Shawn you need to eat. I don't remember the last time I saw you eat.

Shawn: I don’t deserve to eat mama, I’m a failure, I don’t deserve to eat. Shawn starts to cry
You’ve worked so hard for me, and I can’t even go to college now that I’ve lost all my
scholarships. I’m so sorry mama.
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Mama: Shawn I don’t care about your scholarships. I know how hard you worked to earn them.
You’re not a failure son, I am so proud to call you my son. I couldn't ask for anyone better than
you Shawn. This is a small bump in the road that's all. We are going to get through this together,
I promise. Now you need to get yourself out of this slump, stop being so hard on yourself.

Shawn reaches to give his mom a hug with tears in his eyes: I love you mama.

Slowly but surely Shawn starts going to church more and focusing on his schoolwork. He
volunteers at his church and starts talking to God every day. He begins to feel that God is truly
with him. He starts to believe that God really does have a plan for him. One day, at church, he
was given a kind of omen; one that would drive him to attend community college.

Shawn walks into Lehigh Carbon Community College. It isn’t Alabama or Georgia, meaning it
wasn’t some huge and extravagant place where one could get lost if not careful. It was a small
campus; 155 acres at most. It didn’t have much greenery; mostly a lot of weeds and run-down
classrooms. The school looked like it was in condition to be featured in a horror film. The
sidewalks were all uneven, missing, or cracked. The roads were gravel. The lampposts glowed
dimly at night; flickering and going out at times throughout the night.

Shawn to himself: Alright big fella. It’s just you and these grades. Football is over. You got to do
you. Only difference is now you got to outwork everybody using your brain, not your physical
attributes. Forget the people saying you’re not smart enough.

Shawn was determined to get good grades. Throughout his entire stay at Lehigh Carbon, he
remained at the top of his class. He graduated with honors and praises. From there, he applied
and was accepted into the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated with honors and was
valedictorian of his class. He gave his speech on the day of graduation.

Shawn walks on stage. The crowd is cheering his name as he accepts his undergraduate degree
on the brightly lit stage. He was scared he would step on his gown because it was so long, and
the slippery hardwood floor didn’t help reassure his footing anymore. He reached the podium,
towering over it because it was accommodated to the height of the dean. He was a man who
stood a mere 5 foot 6 inches and was wearing his usual attire: a blue long sleeve button up with
black slacks and black penny loafers.

Shawn: I stand before you today with a story that will seem rather oxymoronic. I used to be the
number one high school football player in the country. I had full ride scholarships to Division I
schools’ kids can only dream of. That was a reality for me. Unfortunately, I was also one of the
worst students on campus. I did just enough to stay eligible every grading period and that was
about it. After hearing about the old me you may be wondering, “How is he valedictorian if he
was a bozo in high school?” Well, my senior year, on our first game of the season, I was injured.
It wasn’t just your run of the mill ankle sprain either; I’m talking an injury that required career
ending surgery. I vividly remember telling my teacher that I wouldn’t need school because God
meant for me to play football, not become a mad scientist. Yet here I am, valedictorian and
proud. How did I do it? The answer to that question is the whole objective of my speech, and that
is when failure strikes, don’t back down. Rather, look to God and call for him to give you the
strength to push through and do better with your life than sitting at home sulking about “what
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could’ve been” or “what should’ve been” because that negative train of thought isn’t getting
anyone anywhere. I came here with one goal in mind: do my absolute best, day in and day out, to
ensure I went home with nothing less than my undergraduate degree and the title of
valedictorian. Don’t cave under your fear of failure. Use God’s unlimited strength to find success
in your life. Thank you.