Lights that can be seen from across town, the scent of fresh cut grass, and the roar coming from the whole town as they herd into the stands of Taraska Stadium. Standing at the 50-yard line, my heart races. But I’m not a football player.

I am the manager. The glue. In the background. The backbone. While most people are attracted to football because of the violent and competitive nature, football touched me in a way that was much deeper. It gave me a lasting impression of the game’s fundamentals and values. After hours spent in the training room as an apprentice athletic trainer, I attended to various sideline responsibilities and observed what it’s like to be a football player. So many values and so much inspiration are instilled into every person involved. Respect. Hard work. Fortitude. These are attributes prized by everyone. It was an honor to be a bystander in the process, absorbing the overflow and growing myself. These lessons are sure to follow me into the next stages of my life.

I never threw a touchdown or tackled the quarterback, but I contributed to the prosperity of those who did. Whether it was taping the wrist of the starting players or hydrating the team, I kept the players in the game. Participating in the football program at Arrowhead has been a privilege. The power of every lesson taught, every pre-game speech and the demeanor of every player instills powerful and insightful ideals into the minds of everyone involved, creating work ethic, pride, and confidence that cannot be replicated. I may not be a football player, but my heart still races at the sight of the lights, the scent of the grass and the roar of the crowd. I learned what every person should get the chance to.