I fell in love, but not how you think by Monte

I fell in love, but not how you think by Monte - January 2026 Scholarship Essay

Here is a little story about the time I fell in love in high school…..
On a whim, and with a lot of encouragement from my friends, I joined the football team as a Senior in high school. I had never been on a tackle football team before, and I knew that I wouldn’t get a lot of time on the field. Still, I promised myself that I would give everything I had. I showed up to every weight session, every summer camp, every practice. I studied the playbook and watched hours of film. Somewhere in the middle of all that effort, football became my passion.
I had fallen in love with this sport. Plot twist! It wasn’t a girl, but rather a game, that made my heart go pitter patter.
And as it goes with any relationship, we had our challenges. Most of the season, I stood on the sidelines cheering on my teammates. Hard work didn’t magically turn me into star player. And at the end of the season, on Awards night, when my name wasn’t called, my heart was broken. I had hoped that my coaches would see the effort that I poured into the season. I went home that night feeling defeated. But that feeling didn’t last. My defeat turned into desire.
My disappointment uncovered a strength I didn’t know I had: the ability to turn hurt into purpose. Instead of quitting, I realized I wanted to become the kind of coach who notices every athlete-not just the superstars. I want to help kids discover their strengths, build confidence, and feel seen. I never want another young athlete to walk away feeling the way I did that night.
That season taught me that my greatest strength isn’t athletic ability-it’s empathy, resilience, and the drive to lift others up. That discovery has shaped my goals and the kind of leader I hope to become.