The Things I Carry- Grace Keith by Grace Keith

The Things I Carry- Grace Keith by Grace Keith https://padlet.com/2018gkeith/thethingstheycarried my story en-us 2017-03-06 17:53:28 UTC 2024-05-23 15:02:14 UTC hello@padlet.com What its like to be With the best in the Country 2018gkeith https://padlet.com/2018gkeith/thethingstheycarried/wish/158112896 Ever wonder what it is like to be surrounded by people who are just like you but better? I spend six hours in a classroom at Nashoba, being the only one committed to a college for division one soccer. Two hours later I'm at Stars practice, surrounded by a team of the best soccer players in the state. To my left are two girls who have solidified spots on the national team for our age group. They just returned from England where they played three games against national teams from around the world. One of the girls is the US u18 national team captain. She is committed to Penn State on a full ride. The other, is committed to Notre Dame, also on a full ride. To my right is a Miami Florida University commit, a South Carolina commit, a Syracuse Commit, and a Boston college commit. Behind me are my good friends, a Princeton commit, a Dartmouth commit, and a Colgate commit. I may seem great at Nashoba, but in my true environment I'm just average. We are all in the same boat. The chemistry on this team is different than that of a high school team. There is a competitiveness that is sometimes helpful to my success, yet other times detrimental to my mind. There is not one easy practice, because playing time is never guaranteed. If I'm not on my game I can conclude that I will be playing right bench in the upcoming game.
This all sounds scary and awful, but I love it. I've learned about the unforgiving world through the sport I love. I have learned that feeling sorry for myself will get me nowhere.
My current coach is not a friend. He is not somebody you joke around with. Team chemistry and coach chemistry are two very separate things on this team. It's intense, but it gives me purpose. He is a national team scout, and knows talent when he sees it. Sometimes I can just feel his powerful presence lurk behind me during warm ups, watching my every move.
I frequently think about writing a paper about his influence on me. I cannot think about how it would go, because I cannot for the life of me understand the emotions I have toward this man.
All I can understand and respect is that he has helped me rise to the top of the state. I am great because of him, even if sometimes I don't want to admit it.
(Here is a video created of my team by the video producer for the Red Sox MLB team media. Our practice was videotaped because we had made it to the final four and were slotted to take home the national title. We took fourth place, and our last year together as a team ended with a depressing post game talk from our coach. The next year we would be separated due to a change in age group requirements.)]]> 2017-03-06 17:55:21 UTC https://padlet.com/2018gkeith/thethingstheycarried/wish/158112896 Greg Cosgrove 2018gkeith https://padlet.com/2018gkeith/thethingstheycarried/wish/158407312 "Ignore the noise"
"It's not the biggest, fastest, strongest players, it's the smartest players."
"I can't want it for you."
"Don't let anybody tell you you're second-tier."
Greg Cosgrove was my soccer coach for two years of my life from the ages ten through twelve. I would have still had him as my coach, yet he had gotten fired due to his over competitive characteristics, and trying to make our "B" teams better than our "A" teams. At the time I was a member of the FC Stars' "B" team for my age group, which was called the athletic team. We had a group chemistry that was unbeatable, and worked our way up to surpassing the A team in talent. The club owner was infuriated, for he coached the A team, and hated Greg Cosgrove. Greg didn't have a care in the world. He lived for making little girls fall in love with the game, through his insanity, intensity, and energy. There were games where we would leave crying because of the things he said and did at halftime, when we weren't playing our best. I recall one game under a bridge on an island in New York City, where Greg kicked over a trashcan and sat on it for the entire game not facing our game, because he was so frustrated with our play. He left that game without saying another word to us. Yet in some strange way, his unique coaching tactics had a crazy affect on the mindsets' of his players. We would get to practice the Monday after a bad weekend with something to prove to Greg. When a coach loves their team, the players want to play well for him. They want success. He enlaced a work ethic within my blood that will never leave. He taught me that success comes with passion in practice. His existence in my life was ephemeral, but his influence was enormous. I will never forget him. ]]> 2017-03-07 16:43:01 UTC https://padlet.com/2018gkeith/thethingstheycarried/wish/158407312 Carved into my Memory 2018gkeith https://padlet.com/2018gkeith/thethingstheycarried/wish/159433824 High School Soccer is where the fun memories are made. Club soccer is about discipline and growth both physically and mentally as a player and person. High School Soccer is about invigoration, positivity, excitement, and nights you won't forget. When you come back from a nagging injury, with a vengeance that allows you to win the District title for your Chieftains, you don't ever forget that.]]> 2017-03-11 13:44:51 UTC https://padlet.com/2018gkeith/thethingstheycarried/wish/159433824 Allow yourself to be Great 2018gkeith https://padlet.com/2018gkeith/thethingstheycarried/wish/159434636 Sam Keith, a human being that I am proud to call my brother, has tirelessly worked on his talents in musical theatre. At first he feared showing the world what he was capable of, because of the different social labels that would be put on him if he pursued his dreams. Yet he stayed true to himself, keeping his social life separate from his theatre life. All judgements made on him for what he loved, he brushed off his shoulder. From him I take with me the mindset of believing in oneself, and thinking first of oneself. Because of him I will not fear hard work because of judgement. I will continue to be a part of the idiosyncratic group of people, that sacrifice friends, family, and social acceptance for the greater satisfaction of becoming great at what I love. Here is Sam in his first performance after which his friends started to recognize his talents not as something that made him a "theatre kid," but as something that made him a desirable friend to have. ]]> 2017-03-11 14:01:19 UTC https://padlet.com/2018gkeith/thethingstheycarried/wish/159434636 To Be an Entrepreneur 2018gkeith https://padlet.com/2018gkeith/thethingstheycarried/wish/159434699 Scott Keith is an owner of three self run businesses located in Clinton, Massachusetts. He frequently takes week-long snowmobile trips, all by himself, in the least populated areas of the cold northeast. He interacts with strange people for fun, and has befriended people from all walks of life. His employees consist of formal criminals, band members, costume designers, and zombie apocalypse enthusiasts. His mother is a German immigrant, who lived through the horrors of world war two until she was ten years old. He enjoys cooking rabbit stew, rattlesnake, ox tail, frog legs, and anything you can think of that would sound gross, yet unexpectedly tastes amazing. He is the king of sarcasm and dry humor. He is the most patient man alive. He runs a tarp company, a chiller resale company, and most interestingly a bag company. He never cries and always laughs. He is my dad, Scott Keith. ]]> 2017-03-11 14:02:31 UTC https://padlet.com/2018gkeith/thethingstheycarried/wish/159434699 Motivation is key 2018gkeith https://padlet.com/2018gkeith/thethingstheycarried/wish/159434778 I watch this video before every big game. Never has it failed to give me the chills. Sometimes when I'm feeling down I'll watch it and tear up, and I am not one to cry..]]> 2017-03-11 14:04:15 UTC https://padlet.com/2018gkeith/thethingstheycarried/wish/159434778 Somebody is Working Harder than You 2018gkeith https://padlet.com/2018gkeith/thethingstheycarried/wish/159435617 MURPH
run one mile
100 pull ups
200 push ups
300 squats
run one more mile

Grace... If people are doing this once a week while training for the crossfit games, suck it up and finish your work out. ]]> 2017-03-11 14:12:34 UTC https://padlet.com/2018gkeith/thethingstheycarried/wish/159435617 Forget About it 2018gkeith https://padlet.com/2018gkeith/thethingstheycarried/wish/159436592 It's been a rough day. It's been one of those days where every hour just brings more bad news. Rain is expected for practice tomorrow. I received a C on my math test that I studied for three hours for. I forgot my lunch on the counter at home. My mom texted me about my math grade and now we are fighting because I tried telling her I already knew I had a C, and she really didn't need to remind me. I can't go to the basketball game because I was unexpectedly given an English paper to write and a chemistry lab to complete. I'm stressed about the community service hours I need for National Honors society. I need to email my college coach my spring season schedule by tonight. I have to eat dinner with my grandma for her seventy-third birthday after practice tomorrow. I've developed an obnoxious pimple the size of Jupiter on my chin.
I run out to my car in the nippy January weather, feeling the pelting of cold raindrops against my dry face and chapped lips. I start my car and am off to the gym. I shiver and step on the gas a little harder.
I open the door to the gym and a warm draft of contagious energy slaps me in the face.
Screw all my losses today, forget about mom for an hour, lets get shit done.
I run my fastest two mile time ever, thirteen minutes and thirty seconds. I squat more reps than I thought I could and can feel the reward of a sore butt coming my way.
Thats it. Thats what I needed. I love being an athlete. ]]> 2017-03-11 14:30:38 UTC https://padlet.com/2018gkeith/thethingstheycarried/wish/159436592 No Shame, No Pain, Life is a Game 2018gkeith https://padlet.com/2018gkeith/thethingstheycarried/wish/159437351 Oh the stories she has told me about high school parties, stupid decisions, and late nights that didn't end so well. She worked hard and played harder. High school without a mother, is like a road trip without a GPS. She struggled with her weight, focus, and home life.
Fast forward a good twenty years and she's unexpectedly the most successful person in the family. A shift in mindset is all it takes to set somebody off, to create a new person entirley.
She works eight hours a day, five days a week, and lives off of shameless positivity and caffeine. I can carry myself through a crowd with a walk of confidence because of her strong personality that has rubbed off on me.
She laughs uncontrollably, and shows nothing but respect for every type of person out there.
Her favorite thing to do is give back to those who can't create for themselves. She lifts spirits and influences peoples lives in the simplest of ways.
My Aunt, Jennifer Luisa, is indestructible.]]> 2017-03-11 14:46:32 UTC https://padlet.com/2018gkeith/thethingstheycarried/wish/159437351 A District Championship 2018gkeith https://padlet.com/2018gkeith/thethingstheycarried/wish/159437973 The emotions of this photo are too powerful to put into words. My arm hair stands on end looking at it. It is me celebrating my penalty kick, as my second family runs in to celebrate with me, as we win the district title. ]]> 2017-03-11 14:56:26 UTC https://padlet.com/2018gkeith/thethingstheycarried/wish/159437973 To be an Underdog 2018gkeith https://padlet.com/2018gkeith/thethingstheycarried/wish/159438130 Expect nothing but the highest level of talent from all of your competitors. Play as if it is a world cup game in every stage. Go through life as a scrapper. Don't ever get a big head, don't turn into a princess. You really aren't that great. A lot of people are better than you, keep that in mind. Catch the big heads off gaurd, and show them your potential. You'd be surprised what the will to win can do to you. ]]> 2017-03-11 14:59:32 UTC https://padlet.com/2018gkeith/thethingstheycarried/wish/159438130 Optimistic Struggle 2018gkeith https://padlet.com/2018gkeith/thethingstheycarried/wish/159447950 Eyelids clinched

Nose cinched

Lips pursed

Always works

Hold it back

Holt the attack

It's not that bad

You’ve just gone mad

Last time you lost

From falling through

You remember that

I’m sure you do

Take no breaks

Make no mistakes

Don’t ever slow down

You won’t get your crown

This is how you live

Take nothing and give

Work for yourself

Expect nothing else

Do things with passion

In optimistic fashion

Look away from the dark

And leave a bold mark

Your not good enough

You never will be!

But man stay tough

Confidence is key

Keep expectations low

But always dream big

Don’t let your scars show

The system is rigged

You’ve worked harder than ever

Nothing is fair

This has been quite the endeavor

To never get there

Don’t fall again please

Don’t quit you can’t

Get up off of your knees

You’ll get squished, like an ant

Don’t feel sorry for yourself

Grab a book off the shelf

Figure out a new way to do it

The path to glory is through shit

Find something you want

That you can’t live without

With a cool skill to flaunt

Without any doubt

Invest time in this skill

Learn to sacrifice

With talent one can kill

Yet always be nice

Play with love

Play with unity

Negatity, get rid of

And have no self pity

You are big, fast, and strong

You are a glowing source of energy

We will fight for so long

Then dissapear for eternity

Be the underdog

Be hungry like a hog

Get that last piece of chicken

Bring it back to the pig pen

The game is quite beautiful

Be kind and you’ll leave full

Respect every type of player

And wear lots of layers

Theyll rip through your skin

And tear out your heart

Although what remains may be thin

It is you from the start

Don’t expect to win

Don’t expect to lose

Live day by day

And through life, you will cruise

It will come to an end soon

By night or by noon

With no fair warning

Of the tireless mourning

If your friends have remembered

Things you’ve said and done

Then like a burning out ember

To god you may run

]]> 2017-03-11 17:55:11 UTC https://padlet.com/2018gkeith/thethingstheycarried/wish/159447950 Addidas: "I am here to Create" 2018gkeith https://padlet.com/2018gkeith/thethingstheycarried/wish/159448188 I am here to create. I want to meet new people and give them a new experience. I want to induce a new type of mindset in the brains of oncoming generations. I want to go through the pain and suffering that comes with the bravery of presenting a new idea to a conservative society. I want to establish an heir of positivity that is unbreakable. I want to leave a mark on the things and people I touch. I do not want to fit in. I want to stand out. I do not need to be better than them, I do not need to be number one, I just need to be different. I want to embrace every change. I want to accept every challenge. I want to push my mental and physical limits. I want to shock the world. I have so much in store for me, just you wait and see. I am here to Create. ]]> 2017-03-11 18:00:40 UTC https://padlet.com/2018gkeith/thethingstheycarried/wish/159448188