Wow, I never thought this day would happen. I Jeremy Balick, have been home schooled for all of these years and now I’m going to an actual high school. I quickly got out of bed, found decent clothes on the floor that smelled okay, brushed my brown curly hair and rushed out to the car with a cream cheese bagel in my hand. The one thing I hate is being late so I hope we make decent timing. My mom flew in her racecar, a.k.a., minivan, down the street running through two red lights and almost hitting an old lady. She is crazy when she drives. With ten minutes to spare, I step out of my car and gazed in amazement. “Bye honey good luck! Do you need anything else sweetie?” I shook my head saying, “No mom I’m good!” I shut the car door, and my mom sped off in the distance. I stood looking at the car hoping by some miracle, she would turn around because I forgot my lunch or she already missed me. It never happened.

I started to walk up to the front steps, each step regretting why I told my parents I didn’t want to be homeschooled anymore and demanded them to finally get convinced on the idea of me going. My family is very protective of me because they don’t want me to get hurt in the “outside world”. But I learned throughout the years in my bedroom alone that you’re going to face struggles and have to deal with them by yourself. I can’t have my parents be with me forever cause that’s embarrassing. I started to slowly walk up to the school and gradually opened the door as I was taking a deep breath of air. I walked inside and tried to look for my first classroom without being late. I looked everywhere for my room and luckily, by my third shot; I arrived in my first period
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classroom. I walked in and found myself in a room full of sharks and I’m the bait. I froze in panic, not doing what to do but nervously; I smile at the teacher and moved forward to the back of the room where an empty chair was.
“Hello class I am Mrs. Jones, I will be your English teacher for the school year. Let’s get started shall we?” During Mrs. Jone’s lecture about Shakespeare, I was astounded knew more stuff than I thought I would. I love reading and writing because that is the only way to get outside. Reading and writing is my sport because, well, look at me. I am on the short side with my height being 5’5 and my legs and arms are practically sticks. If someone bumped into to me and slammed me in a locker, I would collapse as if I was Jenga pieces right on the ground. When the bell rung for lunch, I stood my desk, staring at everyone pushing and shoving to the cafeteria. It was a mad house. It seemed as if Justin Bieber was waiting outside.
When the room was clear, I sighed and stood up grabbing my backpack and lunch. Not knowing my backpack was open, my binder flew to the ground with papers flying everywhere in the air. “Ah no.” I whispered to myself in embarrassment. I dropped down to the ground starting to pick up the papers, but then someone came walking towards me and helped me also. “It’s okay” he stated, I used to do this all the time. “Thanks so much! My backpack is extremely old so the zipper came out and I keep forgetting to ask my dad for a new one. Now I use my neighbor’s hair tie to prevent my back from unzipping.” I knew right there that I made the biggest mistake telling him that. He probably thinks I am the weirdest person ever. Hopefully he won’t call me any nicknames like hair-tie stealer. But, I decided to act totally calm and if he says anything to me I’ll respond in my “cool” voice. “What’s your name? He anxiously asks smiling at me. “My name is Jeremy. Jeremy Balick.” “Well howdy Mr. Balick, It is my honor to meet you! My name is Rodrick. He
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looked at me smiling with a huge gap in between his teeth. He had a very interesting but unique style for his appearance. His hair was so slicked back that you could see the amount of gel he put on. Also, he had overalls with the biggest glasses. They looked worse than my glasses! I started to pick up the papers in a fast pace so all of my paper wouldn’t fly in the wind. He did the same too. Rodrick, a person I have just met, is actually being nice to me. I think I just made a friend! When the papers were all picked up I couldn’t thank Rodrick enough for the help I mean, he did it out of the kindness. “So, he asked in his shy voice, do you play any sports?
“No I don’t.”
“Well have you ever played a sport?”
“Kind of when I was really little back in elementary school.”
“Oh I see well, I really want to signup got the football team but no one would do it with me. I think it will be really fun! He slowly gave me a nudged while winking at me saying, “We can get a lot of the ladies if you know what I mean.” I started to laugh in my head thinking about the embarrassment I would put on myself and my family if I played or even touched the ball.
“I think you’re asking the wrong guy. I said. “Sorry, I’m really not good at sports, I’m not athletic at all.”
“Oh come on! Please it will be a lot of fun! We can be on J.V. (Junior Varsity) because it’s a no cut sport.”
I didn’t know what to say to him at that moment so I told him I would think about it. After the day was over, I walked home and took a long nap in my comfy bed. An hour went by, and I woke thinking about Rodrick’s crazy idea of playing football. I mean it couldn’t be that bad because it’s only JV. But oh, what was I thinking, I know I can’t throw, catch, run or even yell loud. I would be
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hopeless on the field! I bet there would be a better bench warmer than me. Thinking about it more and more, I realized I made a transfer because of this reason. I need to try new things and explore my options! I jumped out of bed running through the each room in the house screaming, “Mom! Dad! I’m doing to join the football team!”

The next day came around so quickly and I couldn’t wait to tell Rodrick the good news. I got to school arriving right on time, opened the car door, and sprinted to his locker. I didn’t even realize I forgot to close the car door. My heart was racing fast and hard. I felt like track star sprinting to the finish lane and waiting for my first place medal. I see Rodrick in the corner of my eye and I start to run faster. I can see in his eyes that he is about to hear some exciting news.
“Guess what Rodrick! Guess who’s going to be joining you for this years football team?”
“No way. You’re actually going to do it with me? That’s awesome! I can’t wait to kick some butt on the field.”
We gave each other a high-five because we knew that a hug would be too embarrassing. After school, Rodrick and I went out to the football field to sign up. It was really imitating seeing guys walking passed us averaging 6’2 in huge uniforms with black paint spread across below their eyes. Walking passed them made me feel even smaller and skinner. We walked up to a table where there were sign up sheets. We both grab one, quickly signed the paper and gave it back to the volunteers. We had to borrow pads, cleats, helmets, and a uniform for practice because we didn’t own anything related to football. Mr. Gonazle, the JV football coach, didn’t find any clothes for us to wear because we are so tiny. Fortunately, after twenty minutes of searching, he finally found two uniforms in the back of the storage room. He told us we could keep ours because no one has ever worn them before. Well that made me really embarrassed! Mr. Gonazle tried explaining that
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we are lucky because we got brand new uniforms. I didn’t buy it, I knew that he just had to get rid of them. Rodrick bought it and started clapping screaming, “Yay! We got a new jersey!” After everything was on, I waddled out to the field. The pads very so heavy I felt as if bricks were pushing me down. The coach introduced himself to the JV squad with a long speech. He has worked with professionals in the past and also trained a lot of successful football athletes today. My stomach dropped when I heard that. But I told myself, that I can’t give up no matter what. After he was done talking, the team all got in a huddle and a guy screamed, “Bulls on three Bulls on three, 1, 2, 3,” “Bulls!” After the chant everyone got in a line to do warm-ups, Rodrick and I followed random guys and did exactly what they did so we don’t get yelled at and get humiliated. After many drills, sprints, throwing up, and water breaks, our coach yells at us to huddle up. “Alright first good practice boys he stated, “We have our first game tomorrow here against the Jaws okay? Get here at 4:30 and start warming up. Any questions?” Nobody flinched or made a sounds. “Good I guess we all understand don’t we? Let’s get a win tomorrow boys!” All of us start cheering while jumping up and down in excitement. I have never felt so happy for the game tomorrow.
The next morning my mom drove me to school extra early because I wanted to talk to Rodrick about the strategy of the game. I walked up to Rodrick and started talking about the big game. I told him I goggled different linebacker and quarterback plays we could do at the game. “Rodrick this is amazing, this play will make us champions tomorrow! You and I are doing this play no matter what.”
“Yeah, right. Do you think it will ever put us in?”
“If we work hard before the game, then maybe we’ll see.”
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Throughout the day, I started to shake and get really nervous. My hands were sweaty and warm and my head was throbbing. When school was over, I ran to the field house to gear up in my football uniform so I could miss the crowd of sweating men. It’s pretty disguising. Everyone else came ten minutes later cheering and screaming while getting ready. The coach told us the line-up of the first play leaving Rodrick and I on the bench. The game starts and I get really nervous inside. I try not to show it because my parents are here to support me. I have to prove it to them that they did make the right choice of letting me go to a high school. The first half is over leaving the score to be 31-27. We are losing.
We walked into the field house to discuss our play and statics that we can improve on. Roderick and I didn’t get to play yet so hopefully Mr. Gonzales sees a play I can take over in the 2nd half. Minutes are ticking by as our team bunts the ball over to the other team. They catch it as running the touchdown. Our team blocks the throw by the quarterback and catches the ball. It’s an interception! I can’t believe it! One of our best runner backs sprinted with the ball touching a 60-yard touchdown. Everyone was cheering and excited that we scored. The score now was tied 40-40, leaving 30 more seconds till game. I wanted to play so badly because I wanted to be under the spotlight, in the night, seeing my parents look at me, and me knowing how proud they are of me. I couldn’t take it anymore, so I went up to the coach, tapped him on the shoulders, asking if I can the last play of the game. I told him if he ever had a dream, of doing something courageous and you had to reach to the top. I was honest about how I am not good but I did tell him that I have something that no one else has on the field; a big heart that wanted to lead to success. He stood there shocked of that I said to him. “Alright Jeremy, I will let you play.” “Yes!” I screamed as I rushed onto the field. I felt the cool breeze on me and the bright lights shining right on me. The
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quarter back told us the last play of the game and how I was going to be in the play too. He told me to directly sprint to the touchdown zone and to be prepared to catch the ball. The ref blew his whistle to start to play and we hustle to our positions. I squatted and looked up seeing the biggest guy I have ever seen in my entire life. He was exactly a foot taller than me. I was about to faint but I knew the game must go on. I got into my game face mood and listened to the quarterback. “42. 39 left to the side uh huh hike!” When I heard the quarterback I ran towards the big scary man and I did something that was the most courageous thing I have ever done. I went in between his legs. Yep, you heard me, in between his legs. I had to use my shortness for my advantage! The crowd went wild and I kept running. I kept reminding myself the quarterback in my mind screaming, “Don’t turn back! Keep running!” I finally reached the touchdown area and I signaled the quarterback to throw the ball. The defense did a great job keeping the quarterback safe. The quarterback throws his arm backwards and chucks the ball straight to me. I stood there looking at the spinning insasation the ball was giving. That ball reminded me of my life. I changed my life in so many different ways and now I am officially happy. The ball is coming closer and closer and I can see at its ten feet away from me. I jumped up in the air like a basketball player, and got the ball with one hand. It was a miracle. I fell right into the ground with the ball in my hands. Everyone starts cheering and running onto the field. The buzzer stops and it’s game. 47-40. We win the victory win.