Tom

STORY

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Once in the 5th grade, there was this kid, I won’t mention his name, let’s call him Tom. Tom had a gift, he was great at basketball. When I mean he was great, he was the best at our school. He would never get to play basketball with us at recess because he would always win. I remember his friends making fun of him, let's call them Jerry and Cory, Jerry and Corey were two peas in a pod and were always together, since preschool and in 1st grade, Tom came along, and then there were three peas in the pod but Tom was always their last choice anyway, they would always make fun of tom “why is your footwork like that’’ “you don't shoot right” all these things about Tom and they never noticed that they did the same, and I played the basketball so I and my friends would beg our mom's to let us watch and this one time I remember they said yes so we went up to the loft in our gym and we watched and I noticed that the coach well let's call him Coach Russ. he would keep yelling at Tom, “Tom one more time you're going on the bench!” I remember feeling bad for Tom, his coach, his dad, his brother, all his friends, yelling at him that's a lot to take on and he would practice day and night trying to be the best but when I got home I asked my dad “why does coach Russ always yell at Tom he's like the best at our school” my dad said, I think coach. Russ knows he's the best at your school or class but coach. Russ also knows that Tom isn't the best of himself.

MY POINT OF VIEW

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As I got ready for bed I kept thinking about what my dad had said “best of your abilities” I have always struggled with needing to be the best and if I wasn't I would just quit and give up and I still struggle with that. Naturally, I'm good at a lot of things and if I wasn't at the start of it I would give myself the excuse “I'm just starting to learn others have had more time” and when my dad said to the best of your abilities not everyone else's it kind of changed me I will admit it didn't change me right then and there, I just remembered the story today and I hope it changes me from here on out and I hope it does the same for you as well! much love!

your friend,

Emily