Life Lessons

I believe Sports Instills Life Lessons

Word Count: 447

I have been playing sports all of my life. From when I was very little playing little league baseball to where I am now, a collegiate athlete playing Division I lacrosse I have learned many things. I have learned how to play the sport, condition myself, and better myself as an athlete through playing and practicing my sports. More importantly what I have learned through sports is how to handle myself in the real world. I have learned that sports have taught many life lessons.

When I was in high school my basketball coach talked to the team about what we can learn about playing the game of basketball and how it applies to life. He explained that many of our life lessons come from the game experiences, the preparation for the games, and the time that we spend together as a team. When he first explained this to the team, I felt that there was no way life and sports are remotely close to being the same as each other. But as I listened to his explanations and his reasoning behind each life lesson I began to understand how similar life was to sports.

Every great motivating coach that I have had, have stressed several terms to the team about how to be successful. I believe that each successful trait can translate into our every day daily lives. As I sat hear thinking of all the beliefs that my coaches have preached to me over the years of playing sports I realized that there are ten important things that are stressed almost daily.

A good work ethic, communication, teamwork, patience, discipline, how to handle adversity, time management, leadership, how to handle yourself within the public eye, and how to work with people who have different views are all stressed daily within the sports and real world. Through all of these terms I believe that if you apply it to your job or what ever you do later in life you will be more successful. Through sports you learn about each term and how to adjust and manage them. Sports allow the trial and error method for you to learn from your mistakes and to know what works best.

So as a kid I never thought that by saying man ball would really help with my communication skills later in life. Nor did I know that by our coach running us and making us lift was instilling a better work ethic upon us. But as I grew up and matured as a person I realized that it was the little things in which sports would implant stronger meanings of life lessons.

Ideal Job

My ideal job that I dream and imagine myself doing is being a coach of a top tier lacrosse team. For the past two years I have helped out with coaching my club team back home. Though it is just a summer thing I want the opportunity to advance that and coach a college team that is successful. It would be my ideal job because I love lacrosse and I feel that in your ideal job you should do something in which you enjoy and love doing. I would love a top tier team because success at the highest level would be the greatest achievement. I live for the competition, commradority, challenges, and the highs and lows which come with playing the sport of lacrosse. Since my collegiate career is halfway done I do not know what I am going to do without playing lacrosse. Coaching would be the best resolution to maintain being part of a team and to stay within the sport.


I feel that being a coach is part of my American dream because it is something that I have longed to do and worked hard to understand the game of lacrosse. It also is more than just teaching about lacrosse. The lessons that have been instilled in me through lacrosse will also stay with me. My coaches have always taught me a lot about life and I hope to do the same if I am able to coach. The lessons that have been instilled in me through lacrosse will also stay with me.

Educational Experiences

There have been several distinct moments within my educational career that I consider to be the best educational experiences. One of the most memorable experiences that I remember from elementary through high school was eating lunch. I looked forward to eating lunch everyday. I loved to spend the time talking and hanging out with my friends. It was also a time to get away from the school and the focus that I had to use being cooped up in class all morning. Lunch time enabled me and my friends to catch up on all the recent news and what ever was going on at the time. The laughs and enjoyment will also be remembered. Along with those laughs came knowledge of much more things that could not be taught in the classroom as well.
When I was in the sixth grade we were preparing to go on a field trip to I-max. I was so excited because all of my friends were going were in my group and I had not been to the I-max before. That morning I woke to see I was running late. Since my mom works within the school district she contacted my teacher who said if I hurried over to the bus they would wait for me. I got ready and left as quickly as I could without a lunch because I was so upset that I was late. When I got to school, the bus had left already and I did not get to go on the school trip. I remember the hurt and the sadness that I felt because I could not go and spend times with my friends and get to experience the I-max. I also felt regret for not being better prepared. That was the worst educational experience of my life.

Black Panthers: An American Culture

The image I chose was of Bill’s Liquors boycott, with Clark Bailey dancing and Michael Torrance and James Mott drumming. In the photo I see these proud men and women demonstrating for what they believe. They were demonstrating against Bill’s Liquors because the store had failed to honor their agreement to support the party’s survival programs. The group is the Panther band, representing Oakland in 1971. This image communicates a lot about this particular American culture.
The image caught my eye as you can immediately notice Clark Bailey’s swagger. Through the demonstrations and boycotting music was often heard. This photo resembles the rhythm and beat that the Black Panther party brought to pass the time of the boycotting. Through spiritual music it kept the party together, motivated, and more willing to demonstrate.
The style of the people is clearly represented as well. On both the male and female you can see the afro. The afro was a popular hair style for African Americans during that time.
This photograph represents more than just a boycott. It was their way of life during the 60’s and 70’s. From children to elder, all supported the effort and learned of the evils and wrong doings that were being placed upon them. It shows that as a group they came together to fight and if you were not apart of them you were against them. This photograph also represents that we as a whole, are still divided. That even African Americans could not always agree on what was right from wrong, as well as, knowing how to solve the discrimination that was occurring at the time

Nike an American Culture

Within our world it is within human nature to be competitive. Within competition there is always a winner and through hard work and dedication Nike, is victorious. Nike is the centerfold for the sports and athletics in the American Culture. Nike is a top of the line competitor and defines competition for of its users.
It represents all aspects of athletics and casual wear. The users and wearers of the brand Nike represent athletics and everything involved in the sporting world. It portrays and exemplifies professional athletes to the every day average Joe who wants to be and look the greatest. Its advertisements and lines are directed towards all cultural ideas.
Culturally this brand is very significant to the American culture. Nike is the leading athletic supplier in the United States. You will see Nike sneakers wherever you go. The swoosh symbolizes greatness and the winning edge that every competitor wants.
The brand Nike says a lot about my identity. I am an athlete and I like to identify myself as someone who loves to win. Nike says a lot about my taste as well. My favorite pair of shoes is white Nikes and I like to keep my white shoes very clean. I like to wear Nike apparel when I work out and just want a comfortable feel. Nike also says a lot about some values that I have. Nike represents victory! I dislike losing a lot so therefore I try to win at everything I do. That instills a value for me in my work ethic and how I approach things. So as Nike says, "Just Do it!”

Blog assignment 1

My media habits are influenced by my parents, teachers, and peers. My parents influence my media habits because during dinner at home they like to talk about current issues of the day and what have been going on. Through their dinner table discussions about the day’s events and through their readings of the daily newspaper and news watching I get their feedback. My peers influence me with popular news with celebrities and sports. Every morning when I wake up I get online and look to see what the weather is going to be like. When I look at the weather I also look at the yahoo featured news for the day. I don’t always read them but I like to read the headlines. If the headlines interest me then I read. I don’t like to read much about the political media news. It doesn’t interest me, although it should. By reading more political news it would enhance my knowledge on why things are occurring the way they are. By not getting involved in the political news is my worst aspect of my media habits. My best media habit is that I try and look at the daily news everyday and at least read the headlines to have a basic understanding what is going on within or local news or world news. Specifically I can take several more minutes out of my day to further read all important news topics that are occurring. I can also bring up in conversation more important topics of the day with my peers and parents and have intelligent conversations with them.

Kyle Wimer -

Blog Introduction

My name is Kyle Wimer and I am from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I am a Midfielder on the UMBC Men's Lacrosse Team. I have been playing lacrosse since the 7th grade. I am an advocate sports fan. My favorite sport's team is the Philadelphia Eagles. I enjoy watching movies and listening to music. Currently I am undecided within my studies, but plan to study business.