When Life Started

In 2002, I was given Madden 2002 as a gift from my friend Erik Stone when we were both in 2nd grade. At first I was reluctant to even put the game in my nintendo because I really had no understanding of any sports other than baseball at the time. It was insulting at the time to receive a football video game because my friends knew I had no interest in any sport except for baseball at the time. Without having any knowledge of football, my brother and I played the game and pretty much just mashed buttons without having any common knowledge about football.. yet it was still fun. 

Slowly I started watching some random NFL games on TV without knowing much about anything going on; however, they always kept my interest and attention. By the time I started 6th grade, I had already owned 4 more editions of Madden and I developed a big interest in NCAA football as well. Some of my friends told me to try out for the 6th grade team which I did during spring which soon led to me having a starting spot in 7th grade along side a current Duke Blue Devil, Jeremy Cash. The game felt more and more natural as time went on and I remember studying my playbook more than my school assignments. 

 I ended up being a 4 year football varsity letterman and a 2 year captain for Miami Beach Senior High school and I plan to walk-on to the football team at Florida State University during the spring. What I had thought to be an insult turned out to be the one of the greatest blessings in my life because football turned out to be my passion.