Anybody who wished to compare a photograph of myself as a sophomore in high school would find it remarkably similar to my appearance today. But when I look at the same picture, I see a naive, immature young boy, constantly thirsting for respect from his peers. In the short three years since that picture was taken, my maturity level has seen a drastic increase and I have become a better all-round person, independent of my social status. My sudden boost of maturity can be traced to the day I started wrestling. Three years of wrestling has taught me determination, dedication, and goal-setting, traits that have combined to instill my personal values and create a well-rounded individual.
I started wrestling in my sophomore year in an attempt to raise my social status among my peers. I now admit that my initial motives were blind, but I am convinced that wrestling was the best choice I have ever made. I had my hands full in my first season because I had overly underestimated the rigor that accompanied the sport. Much of the year was spent on the junior varsity level, where I failed to win a single match. Days seemed like weeks, weeks seemed like years, and I found myself counting down the seconds to the end of the season. My dedication was meager and I carried a negative attitude.
But in the last two weeks of the season, I found myself enjoying my new sport, despite my falters. In the summer, I enrolled in Boston University’s annual wrestling camp and started to visit the weight room frequently. I was now preparing for the sport, not for my social status, but rather for the responsibility I felt to win. It was the first sense of true dedication that I had ever experienced. I entered my junior season 20 pounds heavier and a more dedicated competitor. I won the varsity slot over three fellow teammates and had a breakthrough year, finishing seventh in the state in only my second year of wrestling and first on the varsity level.
The Essay on Freshman Year Wrestling School Move
Silence Rolls over the crowd like a slow moving wave headed towards the shore. Continually pounding in my head is the thought, "This is my chance to show them what I'm made of." My heart beats faster as I began to bounce from side to side in an attempt to get warmed up. My hands begin to shake as adrenaline courses through my veins while I anticipate the upcoming match. All I can taste is the salt ...
My feats earned my votes of All-Area Second Team and All-State Honorable Mention by coaches and news writers of wrestling and my school awarded me the Most Improved Wrestler award. When I returned for my senior year, I was named a tri-captain with only two years of experience. I was in the same weight class as the year before, so I had a sturdy understanding of my opponents. I helped to lead my high school team to a 16-5 record, the best record the team has had since 1980, and I was 15-5 individually. However, I faltered at the state tournament, being eliminated in double overtime one win shy of placing by the eventual 5 th place state finisher. Despite the unfavorable outcome, I overall was pleased with my accomplishments.
There is not a single high school sport that can compare to the rigorous activity and constant dedication of wrestling. It stretches its competitors to their fullest peaks both physically and mentally and when mastered, teaches its apprentices the diligent qualities of everyday life: hard work, commitment, and goal-setting. Wrestling is the primary reason I have become the mature young adult I am.
