Reflection on experiences: Friends, Sports, Life, and more!
It is incredible how much I have transformed from my younger years to the present. In school, I would always be shy -- to afraid to voice my opinions and ask questions. This has drastically changed in my years in the Great Neck School District. Amazing teachers and friends such as Mrs. Kathy L’Abbate, Andee Kay, and most importantly, the GOAT,Mr. Dan Weinstein, have encouraged me and countless others to be leaders, not followers. Every teacher, peer, or even guest speaker has had an impact on my mindset and way of living. These mentors have slowly nudged my metamorphosis into a more vocal, active and happy person. In Mr. Weinstein’s class this year I have gone from reading sparknotes and cramming essays to putting hard work and dedication and embracing my creative side. In class, I learned many valuable lessons that apply not just to school, but apply to real life’s tests as well. The Pebbles lesson taught me to embrace the details of life -- to soak everything in. Once the moment has passed and you miss something, you might never be able to recover those memories again.
I’ve gotten closer with many of my peers in English class this year; I can now call many of them friends. As my DECA partner and biggest fan, Michael Hershenhorn has had an extremely positive influence on both my school life and recreational life. He is always there to lend a helping hand and despite being extremely annoying about the Rangers, I know I can always count on him for anything. As DECA partners, we took on the role of Marketing Managers for the New York Islanders. We created a plan that would help smooth the Islanders’ transition to Brooklyn next year. Some of our ideas were implementing a Power Bar Power Play, which would promote Power Bar while giving back to the community when the Islanders scored power play goal, and a 40-40 Dinner for first responders at Jay-Z’s prestigious and pristine 40-40 club. Our promotion plan really helped me understand business a lot better and cemented my love for sports marketing. I would love to go into sports marketing in the future; I would love to expand my knowledge about the sports world into the marketing industry.
One of the ‘’sports’’ I take pride in are my fantasy teams. Besides school, of course, I keep track of fantasy sports 24/7. Whether it’s baseball, basketball, or football, I am always in leagues with my friends and family and it’s also a good source of income as well. Sports are amazing because they can link you with so many other people who share the same passion as you; people have heard about me talking about my favorite soccer team (Bayern Munich) and engaged in random conversations. Despite my parents hating that I talk to strangers, I love that the fact that you can know so little about a person yet share so much. Sports bring the world together in times of trouble and unrest, and can reach every tip of the planet and whet everyone’s appetites.
Outside of following sports, I run track and play basketball. Basketball is hands down my favorite sport. The rush of a fast break and the feeling when you drain a three-ball is incomparable to any other experience I have ever felt. There are so many rewarding experiences that come with basketball: leadership, teamwork, and most importantly winning. On my AAU Team, the Long Island Eagles, I’ve played with many great leaders who have gone on to play basketball in college. They have taught me to be stand tall in times of adversity, to protect your brothers and your teammates, and to embrace victory and not to let anyone back you down. These lessons don’t only apply to basketball. They apply to life. I have become physically and mentally stronger due to basketball and could not be more thankful everyday for not only my brothers and coaches. I try to represent and express my feelings the best I can through my writing; my prose piece ‘’Undefeated’’ and my numerous poems describe
Despite being relatively humble, I am the first one to acknowledge that I am an extremely sore loser. No matter what and who, I am the first one to get upset about losing. I feel that as much as people look down on people who can’t accept losing, losing is part of human nature and every bone in my body is competitive. Whether its grades, sports or even eating, I want to be the best. I want to be the best in everything all the time. Sometimes I want to say it’s kind of my hubris--my fatal flaw. But at the same time, I know that is what pushes me over the edge every day: the drive to be the best. The drive to go to endless lengths to get what I want and to be the best.
My family has been so important throughout my journey; they have taught me everything I know to this day. My morals, attitudes and views have all came directly from them. Thanks to them, I have developed my own views that I will pass down as well. My family is my rock; they are always there when I need them. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without them. They will always be there for me when no one else is.
Man, I have done so much this year. From basketball to school to watching countless movies and TV shows, I realized that it is amazing how much one can do in a day. Just the countless hours of watching young Bruce Wayne on ‘’Gotham’’ or just all the sporting events I watch--NBA, NFL on sundays, NHL, and soccer--it truly amazes me how fast time flies. I try to be as active as I can and make the most of my day and honestly I am very happy with where I am in life right now. I have the perfect balance. If you are happy with yourself, then nothing else matters.
It is incredible how much I have transformed from my younger years to the present. In school, I would always be shy -- to afraid to voice my opinions and ask questions. This has drastically changed in my years in the Great Neck School District. Amazing teachers and friends such as Mrs. Kathy L’Abbate, Andee Kay, and most importantly, the GOAT,Mr. Dan Weinstein, have encouraged me and countless others to be leaders, not followers. Every teacher, peer, or even guest speaker has had an impact on my mindset and way of living. These mentors have slowly nudged my metamorphosis into a more vocal, active and happy person. In Mr. Weinstein’s class this year I have gone from reading sparknotes and cramming essays to putting hard work and dedication and embracing my creative side. In class, I learned many valuable lessons that apply not just to school, but apply to real life’s tests as well. The Pebbles lesson taught me to embrace the details of life -- to soak everything in. Once the moment has passed and you miss something, you might never be able to recover those memories again.
I’ve gotten closer with many of my peers in English class this year; I can now call many of them friends. As my DECA partner and biggest fan, Michael Hershenhorn has had an extremely positive influence on both my school life and recreational life. He is always there to lend a helping hand and despite being extremely annoying about the Rangers, I know I can always count on him for anything. As DECA partners, we took on the role of Marketing Managers for the New York Islanders. We created a plan that would help smooth the Islanders’ transition to Brooklyn next year. Some of our ideas were implementing a Power Bar Power Play, which would promote Power Bar while giving back to the community when the Islanders scored power play goal, and a 40-40 Dinner for first responders at Jay-Z’s prestigious and pristine 40-40 club. Our promotion plan really helped me understand business a lot better and cemented my love for sports marketing. I would love to go into sports marketing in the future; I would love to expand my knowledge about the sports world into the marketing industry.
One of the ‘’sports’’ I take pride in are my fantasy teams. Besides school, of course, I keep track of fantasy sports 24/7. Whether it’s baseball, basketball, or football, I am always in leagues with my friends and family and it’s also a good source of income as well. Sports are amazing because they can link you with so many other people who share the same passion as you; people have heard about me talking about my favorite soccer team (Bayern Munich) and engaged in random conversations. Despite my parents hating that I talk to strangers, I love that the fact that you can know so little about a person yet share so much. Sports bring the world together in times of trouble and unrest, and can reach every tip of the planet and whet everyone’s appetites.
Outside of following sports, I run track and play basketball. Basketball is hands down my favorite sport. The rush of a fast break and the feeling when you drain a three-ball is incomparable to any other experience I have ever felt. There are so many rewarding experiences that come with basketball: leadership, teamwork, and most importantly winning. On my AAU Team, the Long Island Eagles, I’ve played with many great leaders who have gone on to play basketball in college. They have taught me to be stand tall in times of adversity, to protect your brothers and your teammates, and to embrace victory and not to let anyone back you down. These lessons don’t only apply to basketball. They apply to life. I have become physically and mentally stronger due to basketball and could not be more thankful everyday for not only my brothers and coaches. I try to represent and express my feelings the best I can through my writing; my prose piece ‘’Undefeated’’ and my numerous poems describe
Despite being relatively humble, I am the first one to acknowledge that I am an extremely sore loser. No matter what and who, I am the first one to get upset about losing. I feel that as much as people look down on people who can’t accept losing, losing is part of human nature and every bone in my body is competitive. Whether its grades, sports or even eating, I want to be the best. I want to be the best in everything all the time. Sometimes I want to say it’s kind of my hubris--my fatal flaw. But at the same time, I know that is what pushes me over the edge every day: the drive to be the best. The drive to go to endless lengths to get what I want and to be the best.
My family has been so important throughout my journey; they have taught me everything I know to this day. My morals, attitudes and views have all came directly from them. Thanks to them, I have developed my own views that I will pass down as well. My family is my rock; they are always there when I need them. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without them. They will always be there for me when no one else is.
Man, I have done so much this year. From basketball to school to watching countless movies and TV shows, I realized that it is amazing how much one can do in a day. Just the countless hours of watching young Bruce Wayne on ‘’Gotham’’ or just all the sporting events I watch--NBA, NFL on sundays, NHL, and soccer--it truly amazes me how fast time flies. I try to be as active as I can and make the most of my day and honestly I am very happy with where I am in life right now. I have the perfect balance. If you are happy with yourself, then nothing else matters.
