Narrative Essay Sample: Challenges in High School

Have you ever wondered why high school is so hard on teenagers? My challenges might seem like nothing from the outside looking in, but that is not the case. If you could get to know me you could see first hand my desire to be great and succeed at the game known as life. The goals I’ve set for myself have not been reached yet, but there’s certain experiences I’ve gone through and people that I’ve met that have prepared me for what’s to come in the near future.

Like many other high school students, my challenges began freshman year. I was liked by most everyone and would consider myself a good student. However my problems didn’t have to do with any external sources, like teachers or students but they stemmed from within myself. The problem was I was caught up on not being as big as some of my peers I played sports with. Everything in life seems to go hand in hand, the person who studies more on the test usually gets a better grade, in my case my teammates worked harder and more often than me so they played more. Towards the end of my freshman year, around baseball season, I decided to make a change. It started very simple by taking extra ground balls or hitting in the cage after practice. As time went on I began to work harder and improved my skills. With even more time I started watching what kind of food and drinks I put in my body. Once senior year came around I had grown nearly a foot and put on 50 pounds. The challenges were not only in school but out of school as well.

 Another challenge I faced was not having money for myself. Even before I got to high school I hated asking my parents for money. There was only one problem, I didn’t have a driver’s license much less a car to get to work. By sophomore year I had a truck and my dad had recently bought a landscaping company. Beginning that summer I worked as much as I could, sometimes pulling 12 hour days, 4 to 5 times a week. Even while working so much I still found time to play baseball nearly every weekend. The work was hard, especially for only 10 dollars an hour, but the paycheck on Fridays made it worth it. This job allowed me to take pride in myself not only because of the things I was able to buy but also because I was able to put gas in my truck. This was a great accomplishment for me because I was able to make my parents proud.

Last but not least I think my baseball coach, Coach Sebesta, has helped form me to the person I am today. He not only helped me become a better baseball player but also has prepared me for what’s to come in the future. For instance he never lets his players take the easy way out whether it’s in the weightroom, on the field, or in the classroom. He gets a bad rep from a lot of people because he’s “mean” or “hurts feelings” but the simple truth is that he is trying to make his players the best they can be. These are only a couple things he’s done for me that has shaped who I am today but there are much more. He never lets anyone give up, take the easy way out, and most importantly taught me that baseball is so much more than a game.

Everyone has their own story of challenges and life changing events that form the person he or she is today. These events that have transpired in my short life have not only instilled a great work ethic in me but also the drive to win everyday.