I tried soccer when I was ten

And have since vowed never again

I wasn't too quick on my feet

I gave up fast in summer heat

They put me on defensive line

And during practice, I did fine

But when it came time for the game

The field no longer looked the same

They kick the ball towards my face

I shield my head and quickly brace

I've saved myself from getting hurt

Though if I put in more effort ...

The tension that surrounds the mud-colored Pit is so thick that even if I had the sharpest knife in the drawer, I’d never be able to slice through. We’re all waiting. We’re all watching. We’re all desperately hoping that the deceivingly soft-looking, cream-colored ball would somehow end up in our arms, and one of us would gain the opportunity to battle frighteningly fiercely for the glory of our g...

Selander peeked over the lip of the roof as fast as he could. The grey of the street below was nothing but a blur. It was inconsequential … a fleeting thought … and tremendously solid.

Gulping down the sudden urge to vomit, Selander staggered backwards, his spine colliding with the chimney stack and dislodging a cloud of soot.

He wanted to do this. He wanted to do this.

He had to do this.

...

Playing the sport football

Is a sport that you can smell

The heat that you can emit

Smells like the fires of hell

Playing the sport football

Is a sport you can hear

The crowd and players

Make it severe to the ear

Playing the sport football

Is a sport you can taste

It’s hot dog and burger smells

Are not a waste

Playing the sport football

Is a sport you can see

The lights, players and ball

Are ...

They say that as long as you dive straight into the water you’ll be fine. That as long as you go hands first in a dive, the impact won’t kill you. I’m more skeptical. There can’t be any way that you can jump straight 30 feet down into a dangerous ocean and survive. But this is my culture. If I don’t make the jump and swim back to shore, I’m as good as dead. At the most they’ll let me live for one ...

Most people believe that mental illness is rare and can barely happen to the people around them, which is not the case.

It is often characterized by unusual thoughts, feelings, perceptions, behavior and relationships with other people.

“Mental illness is very common and is often not recognized because of its different manifestations” (Weir, 2012).

There is also barely enough awar...

Most people believe that mental illness is rare and can barely happen to the people around them, which is not the case.

It is often characterized by unusual thoughts, feelings, perceptions, behavior and relationships with other people.

“Mental illness is very common and is often not recognized because of its different manifestations” (Weir, 2012).

There is also barely enough awar...

I can feel the adrenaline pulsing through them all. Mine is too, but it’s fueled by fear and I can feel that theirs is something more primal. They are ready for the whistle, sticks crack on the ice, the intensity rising. I want to run, but that will never happen on these blades. I can barely walk, definitely can’t skate. How did I get myself stuck in this chaos of a sport? I gag at the mere menti...

WhyWhyWhyWhyWhy, Why did I do this? Sure revenge is important, but did it really cost my life? I look out over the stadium and wonder once again, why? It’s a game of dare. It’s a game of those who are fearless. It’s a game of who jumps first. I was doing it because I wanted the emperor to trust me. I wanted my revenge. And no ones gonna stop me. So thats what I thought of when I jumped. When I hea...

I woke up in the morning knowing that it was my first day of practice. I could feel my heart beating like a bass drum. For years I have been told that it was too dangerous and that I couldn’t succeed, but that was an opinion. I decided to start focusing on the facts instead. The facts were; I am a senior in high school, I am old enough to make my own decisions, I am athletic and strong, and I had ...