Teamwork, perseverance, commitment, responsibility, time management, physical endurance, and determination: these are all traits acquired by being a student athlete. To commit to such a time consuming activity, one must learn how to prioritize and manage their time, which is easier said than done. With seven hours of school, two and a half hours of practice, and approximately three hours of homework a night, that leaves little time for much needed relaxation and socialization for the common teenager. Student athletes hold a very important status in high school, and it is well deserved for all of the hard work they put in.
The name Garrett Estep probably isn’t foreign to you, unless you are foreign to La Plata. As a senior, Garrett is involved in soccer, hockey, and the theater program here at La Plata High School. He is a leader in and out of school. Taking Advanced Placement classes and receiving a 3.7 GPA, Garrett puts school first because he knows how important his education is for his future. It can become tough balancing school and sports, but Garrett says that he avoids procrastination which is a big part of what consumes teenagers’ time. La Plata High School is not shy when it comes to sports with soccer being one of our better assets. Last year, the boys soccer program made it to states but unfortunately lost 4 to 0 against Huntingtown. Garrett plans to lead his team back to states and bring home a victory, but that won’t happen over night. His biggest Middletown is “when I scored the game tying goal against Patuxent which advanced us into the quarterfinals after overtime.” The entire team must work together and play their absolute best in our attempt to be the best. As a left midfielder, our October Athlete of the Month is determined to preserve team chemistry. Andrew Carnegie’s quotes that “teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision, and it is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results” represent how Garrett works. He encourages everyone on the team to be supportive of one another. Soccer is a team sport and that means that everyone has to give their all. Mr. Butler, the boys soccer coach, says that “Garrett is a scrappy, hardworking player that brings a lot of attention.” His advice to anyone who wants to get better at soccer would be to practice, practice, practice, and never give up on yourself because nothing happens over night.
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