On Friday, October 20, I finally suited up for my last fully-padded, full contact football game. It was a tough day and it was hard to get through. That game would be my 74th time strapping on pads, going out and knocking heads with the other team. Third grade, when I was only eight, was the first year I played tackle football; the first year I fell in love with the game. Nine years later I still have that crazy love for it.

The reason I wanted to write this article was to tell everyone how important it is to go out and get involved. I never would’ve thought that playing this controlled violent game would have so many memories. I never would’ve thought that I would make so many friends. I never would’ve thought that those friends would become family!

Now that I have had a week or so to think back the only thing I would change was the effort. Football taught me more about life than just the sport itself. The most important thing I learned from playing football is you only get out what you put in. That is a reference to everything in life. Remember that no matter what you are doing in life, put in all the effort you possibly can.

Football is more than just a game; it is huge learning point in your life. That is why I want everyone to go out and try something new. It doesn’t have to be football or even a sport in general. If you got out and try something new with new people, you will make friends and even in some cases you will make a family.