A big part of the high school experience is sports. Whether you’re going to a sporting event with friends or playing in the game, high school sports allow teenagers to bond with their peers and have fun while representing their school.
I have played soccer for Chapman for five years, and throughout my time playing, I have made lifelong friendships and made great connections with my coaches.
Dressing up at school for home games, going to eat after games, and long bus rides with friends are all memories that most athletes won’t forget.
It takes a lot of effort to play any sport at any level, so experiencing these hardships like losses, sprints, and bad practices, really helps create a strong bond between players.
Playing a sport for Chapman is a little bit easier when you’ve been playing it your whole life. However, plenty of people get involved with school sports a little later.
It’s common for seniors to try a new sport in their last year of high school just to get involved as much as possible. While seeing others do this in previous years and currently, I’ve seen the joy it’s brought them and the slight feeling of regret for not trying it sooner.
It’s pretty well known that the stands look a little different for Friday night football games than they do during a girls soccer game. But there’s no better feeling than seeing your classmates in the stands supporting you while you do what you love.
The few times that girls soccer has had a big game and a good amount of supporters, it changes the energy on the field. The players are much more into it when we hear our friends cheering for us, and it elevates how well we play.
But not everyone is athletic or dares to join a new sports team, especially if they don’t know anyone. So just going to different sporting events has the same effect.
Hearing the music, watching the game, and talking to friends gives the authentic high school experience that a lot of people search for in these four years.
Football games are typically the sporting event that many think of when talking about high school sports, but if we can all make an effort to show up for all sports, then we can have the same thrill of a Friday night football game all school year long.
