<p>Prompt: Write a personal statement with content of your own choosing.</p>
<pre><code>Growing up, I always heard the phrase learn from your mistakes but never really thought too much of it. Anyone willing to make the mistake the first time is going to make the same mistake again, I told myself. I just looked at it as another cliché until I stumbled upon a learning experience that taught me a great deal about myself and my abilities as a person; it created a leader in me that I never knew I had.
At the end of my sophomore year of high school, the world was mine. I was soon to be a varsity basketball and football player, I had my perfect GPA that I would stress myself out over constantly, and I had an excellent reputation in the school with all my teachers. In a series of careless, selfish acts, I got caught drinking alcohol. Not only did I let my parents down, I let my coaches and my teachers down. I was suspended from ¼ of my athletic season junior year meaning I would have to sit out one football game and three basketball games. Several other kids got caught in the same act and it ruined our football season as we finished with a 2-7 record. After seeing the disappointment in the eyes of Coach Stilling, my head football coach, I decided that I could use the cliché that I so nonchalantly looked past; I could learn, and I could make a difference.
I went through a basketball season in which I was forced to sit out the first three games with several other kids. Our basketball team decided to stay away from drugs and alcohol for the season and we ended up going down-state finishing in the elite eight of the entire state. It was a powerful experience that only motivated me further to influence the football team.
After several talks with Coach Stilling he taught me to use my leadership skills to help the team. He was not naïve to the fact that most of his football players were partiers, but we talked at great lengths about changing this image that was created in our community. At first, I felt alone as I was a great minority in choosing not to drink with the football guys; I was too scared to put them down for it as it was completely normal and a routine activity, but I quietly led by example.
In doing this, I earned respect from my teammates, even those who did choose to drink; this, along with the hard work I displayed on the football field my junior year (despite little playing time) caused my teammates to vote me as one of four captains to lead our team in the next season. I knew I had to gain support if I was going to be able to get everyone on board to stay away from drugs and alcohol so I started with the captains. They all agreed that the drinking had to stop if we wanted to bring our football team to the state playoffs for the first time in six years so we told our teammates how we felt. The response was mixed; it was difficult to keep 50 guys under surveillance but slowly more and more people jumped on board.
I faced several difficult situations where my friends would purposely avoid me so they could have their fun, and this was the time where I was needed most, according to coach. The most difficult time to lead is when the numbers are against you but a good leader is willing to take a risk and put themselves on the line, preached coach. I strutted into the party not knowing what to expect. Upon entering, I simply looked at each football player and companion in the eyes and that was enough. It is remarkable how much power a look can possess. We talked as a team the next day soon before the season was to begin and reminisced of how long weve been waiting for a senior year of football. Everyone promised me they would quit the alcohol and drugs for our team.
As I reflect now, I am proud to be the captain of a playoff bound 5-0 football team, and wonder if I had anything to do with it. Could we still be 5-0 with a football team of partiers and drug abusers? Probably, but I still feel a sense of self-accomplishment knowing I helped make things right. I also gained some powerful insight as to my decisions and the effects they have on other people. As coach always says, when things are going wrong, you have the ability to respond and make them right. With the help of those around me, I responded, and, so far, its paying off.
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