Blood, sweat, and dirt line my aching and cut body

My knees tremble with exhaustion and pain
I stand with others suffering the same fate
We’re all buffering from the intense heat
The immense stress feels like a boulder on our shoulders
Atlas would be proud
For it is the final day of soccer tryouts
And I try my hardest not to cry out, or die out
The sun is unruly as it beats its rays upon us while the humidity plays along
There are no seats to rest upon
For we are merely pledges at a frat house, that is sports
The drills grow longer as the day grows shorter
None of us relinquish our determination
At the end of this day, we are placed onto either two teams
The coach screams at us to pick up our feet
He knows we’re beat but could care less
As the girls track team stare, we try to maintain any sense of dignity we may have left
I was but a lowly freshman who walked with giants
I was amongst bigger, faster, and stronger boys than myself
I was disadvantaged in every way
When the day was done though, it all was worth it
For, alas, we are placed into our respective houses

And long behold, I, the only freshman, makes the Varsity Soccer Team at Andover High School