Dominant Impression Reflection
Christian Amering
Brother from Another Mother
It
is now funny to look back at this paper after I had written it earlier this
year. A lot has changed from when I wrote this paper, including my now
continued friendship with Paul, and also where I decided to go to College. When
I wrote this paper, I was nearly certain that I would be going to RPI in the
fall to attend college with Paul. Now I am going to University of Buffalo which
is nearly completely opposite directions.
As
I reflect on this paper, I really realized what I began to instill in my
writing. From this paper, I learned to use example, and really expand upon a
topic, even if it is just as basic as a long-lasting friendship. Paul has
always given me a lot to talk about with all the fun stuff we do, and almost
made writing this paper easy.
One
of the biggest things this paper allowed me to do was to realize how writing is
not just something that is written, and forgotten, but is also a historical
document. When you write the paper, you are writing about current time, but as
I look back on this paper, I realize how much has changed, and how life doesn't always go as planned.
Once
I revised this copy, I truly saw the potential that this paper had. By simply
moving around a couple paragraphs and expanding upon certain points I made
really allow the reader to be intrigued by my life with Penfield Soccer. The
weaknesses at first in this paper included lack of detail and expanding upon
the topic, and also originally the title.
When
Mrs. Basko revised my original paper, she recommended including dialogue so
that the reader knew some of the words Paul had said to me. I attempted to go
into the piece and add in some, but found it difficult because I almost found myself
just describing my point of view of Paul, not giving specific examples of when
we conversed. To make up for the lack of dialogue, I expanded upon some
different points in my senior year without Paul, to really show how much
different it is to have Paul around on our team.
As
I conclude this reflection, I would love to in the future re-read this paper,
and then maybe rewrite another version of it, based on my friendship with Paul
in the future, and how we have both changed.
Here is my revised copy:
Brother from Another Mother
Growing up throughout elementary school, my
afternoons consisted of watching my older brother play high school soccer. One
of his team mates, Mike Lentine was seen by everyone as the popular jock and
was also known for his parties. After games he was seen with his under dressed
girlfriend, who would most likely be seen kissing. For most kids, this cocky
young Italian is what most kids pictured and idolized growing up.
However, in my case, I idolized his
younger brother Paul, who was currently the youngling prancing up and down the
white stripes as the ball boy. He distinguished himself to me as a serious
soccer player like his brother, despite his smaller figure.
As I entered varsity soccer for my
first year, there was no one I looked up to more than Paul.
Varsity soccer took me by awe as I
had dreamed of playing sense watching my brother win states in 2004. Entering
my first year consisted of a sectional final championship, and following right
after the Penfield Soccer tradition of greatness. We played as one. If
something happened to one of us, it affected us all. We were the true
definition of a team, and it showed. Prep talks before games, pasta dinners and
film sessions all distinguished us from the other teams and ultimately helped
us win sectionals.
Leadership was the biggest part of
my sophomore year on Varsity, and effectively ruined my final senior year, with
a lackluster season. I have always been more comfortable being led, and then
leading a team on my own. I usually let my play speak for me, but when your
team doesn't follow, you end up with a season like we did. We truly lacked a
true leader that could back up his words with their play.
My junior year, as every other year,
started with doubt and what our team was going to be able to accomplish
throughout the upcoming season. One thing we didn't lack however going into the
year, once again, was leadership. I was pushed on the field to become a better
player. Paul Lentine was the engine behind our team.
Finally being able to play with a
kid that I had watched dominate the previous season, as a starter we built a
friendship that is considered unbreakable at this point. On the field, Paul
would work to the point in which he was bent over, on a garbage can, sweat
running down his face, hurling. But before you knew it he was right back on the
turf beads, leading a suicide again.
I recall one game when our team was
struggling, Paul came up to me and said now is your time to make your mark on
Penfield Soccer. I had somewhat played a decent game and knew I had it in me to
truly dictate who won the game. He told me that now was the time. Within the
next couple of plays, I found myself in a give-and- go play which led me one on
one with the keeper. I slotted the ball lower left corner, past the keeper, and
that ultimately decided the game.
Since Paul was a year older than me,
and we hung out so much, I felt as though I grew up in his grade. When he left
for college, I was not quite sure what to do with my life.
He continued to pursue soccer at
Rensselaer, and was also seen to his new teammates pushing himself to the point
of exhaustion, and hurling. And I was left at high school, with a far from
ordinary loosing soccer team.
As much as I would love to compare
myself to Paul, I am just not the same person.
Paul’s endless determination and
good nature is just something that most people cannot compare to. I still
remember him on the radiating turf, yelling in pain as he cramped up from
another extensive workout, and in a game huffing and puffing as he sprinted up
and down the touchlines in order to help us sneak away with another win.
Off the field, he had an
unforgettable cackle and a “aye” yelp whenever he got pumped. However he also
was a serious character that anyone could distinguish without even seeing him,
due being overshadowing from his previous generation brothers.
At this point in my somewhat
lackluster senior year, influenced by our soccer season, I only can imagine
what Rensselaer will provide next year when the college experience engulfs me
when I once again get to join Paul.
Penfield soccer has been my
upbringing. From the early morning practices in the summer, with sweat dripping
down my face in the grueling sun, to the late fall practices wearing our red
and white striped warm-ups, Penfield soccer defines who I am. The people
surrounding soccer have also helped characterize who I am, and no one is more
influential then Paul Lentine.
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