Everyone has tried at least one sport in their life, whether it was at the recreational level to the most competitive. The most basic purpose of sports is to win, however, the lessons learned through playing sports makes them special. I will never forget my first season of hockey when I was four and learning very quickly that teamwork is crucial in order to win. That lesson early on has correlated into my everyday life, whether it be at my job or in the classroom. Learning how to be a member of a small group of individuals and being able to contribute equally to that group has been essential to my own personal growth.

Just like in sports, in life, some challenges may come in different forms. In-game injuries or bad official calls serve as obstacles that have to be overcome in order to win. Life is no different, certain obstacles will arise whether it's in school, the workplace or at home; you have to learn how to manage these situations in order to succeed in the end. I have learned how to take on obstacles with stride and use them as further motivation to get to my main goal. My junior year of high school my hometown was hit with Hurricane Sandy, leaving a couple of my football teammates without a home. A week after Hurricane Sandy, we beat the number one ranked team in our conference. We used the pain and heartbreak that many of our teammates were experiencing to will ourselves to beat the heavily favored undefeated team.

I will never forget the long high school two-a-days that we endured. The conditioning that made almost everyone think about quitting at least once. The up-downs, wind sprints, suicides, Russian miles, Indian runs, bleachers, gasers; all factors that have given me confidence that I can succeed even in the most exhausted state. It is ingrained in me that I always have just a little bit more in the tank. I can now tap into an internal motivator that causes that pain of exhaustion to subside. Sports have taught me the importance of endurance. Life isn't easy and learning how to endure through the most challenging times is essential to becoming a successful individual. Sports gave me the mock blueprint or test trial in order to succeed when things really matter, and for when it's more than a win or loss on the line.

Sports are inspiration and uni-fires for all walks of life. A Canadian and a Russian can immediately relate due to their love for hockey. A black South African can talk with a Brazilian about their favorite soccer team. Sports allow for individuals to come together and put away differences. In the very near future the Olympics will be on and without a doubt there will be calls for peace and prosperity amongst countries. I have learned work ethic, discipline, teamwork, communication and mental toughness all from playing sports my entire life. I truly believe that there is a sport for everyone out there, it's just the matter of being willing to play the game of looking (pun intended).