You are looking at the newest member of the Centennial High School JV soccer team. Yep. You read that right. Andy was notified yesterday by the JV coach that out of the 7 kids that were still trying to get onto the team Andy was one of two selected. The coach told him that he played with more heart than most of the other players - even those already on the team. He was also told that he hustled more anyone else on the team. These two things are what earned him a spot on the roster. Words cannot even begin to describe how proud of him I am. Bob and I were elated yesterday when he told us the news. He was super proud of himself and he beamed from ear to ear. He picked up his uniform today and couldn't wait to try it on.
Andy has his first game tomorrow night at 5 pm MST. I will be on the sidelines cheering for him like a nut because I know how hard he has worked for this spot. I know the tears, the aches - both external and internal, the frustration, and the fear that he overcame to get to this point.
One day last week I had to pick Andy up early from practice and I walked down to the field to get him. As I was waiting for him it took me a while to notice him in the crowd of boys because his demeanor had changed so much. He held his head high and was interacting with the kids. He wasn't off to the side with his head hung low like so many other times I had come to pick him up. He looked like a new kid. He had finally arrived.
Nothing seems to be easy for Andy. He has to earn and work very, very hard for almost anything & everything he has in his life. He had the best attitude the whole time in terms of not quitting and not giving up even when he really wanted to because this was such a challenge for him.
I don't care how much play time he gets. I am not sure he does either. He is just so happy to have earned a spot on the roster. He learned a lot from this experience about how sometimes when a door seems to close it isn't because another one has opened, but rather a challenge to see just how badly you want what was behind the original door.
Andy proved that he wanted to make this team even after he was originally cut from it. He didn't let that shut door turn him away from a sport he loves. Instead it made him work even harder than he was and prove that he had the heart that it took to have a coveted spot on the team.
Getting to this point changed him. It challenged him to not give up. It challenged him to keep at something even when he felt like he was no good. It challenged him to show his teammates that he was one of them even when he was picked last for scrimmages. It challenged him to worker harder than he has ever worked before.
Last fall soccer season will always hold a special spot in my heart for many reasons, but this season will be my most special for Andy for never has he fought for something so much as this. My heart is so full of admiration and love for this child. He truly is a gift.
Congratulations, buddy!!!!
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