final draft

Can’t sleep, cold, and flustered. Waking up in a tent four feet by four feet isn’t necessarily ideal when you are planning on getting beauty sleep. Low on oxygen and lower on energy, the last thing I want to do is to trek six hours up an incline that most professional skiers find themselves going down.Out of the tent to congregate with the group, we learn our route, and try to stomach a low grade mountain meal. The enthusiasm shown by everyone can merely be described as cynical. Once we leave our camp, the pain follows. I try to escape the trek by floating away with my iPod, but by day three, nothing seems to be escaping the ground. My family has always been an outdoors family, with the exception of me. I’ve always been the one asking for a somewhat relaxing vacation every once and a while rather than one that forces me to push myself to the limit.After hydrating thoroughly, everyone seems to catch a second wind. We hike and hike until we feel as though everyone deserves a rest.The top is near, everyone is exhausted, and all I can think about is the way down. I know that I can push myself further, but I am happy that I have been able to accomplish something so intense. My ears begin to pop ferociously as we near the summit, and the complaining ceases. We reach the top before any other groups do, and the view is unforgettable. Being atop Africa is something that many kids can’t say they’ve done.
Ever since I was five I’ve had two things in common. I traveled to exotic locations every year, and I was a soccer enthusiast. The traveling never subsided as the years dug on, but the excitement for soccer seemed to fade away. Even though I would say every year,
“This is the last year I’m playing soccer!”
Every time the season rolled around, I would see myself putting on the same shin guards that protected my beaten up legs for years. This would anger me, but I felt that I needed a challenge in my life; to spice things up.
My urge to call it quits only seriously hit me my senior year in high school. I had been doing really well in lacrosse, and the last thing I needed was an injury in soccer. After what seemed like the thousandth time I have debated whether to try out, I found myself on the field warming up.
The first day measured up to be one of the toughest workouts I’ve ever had to endure. This only complemented my feelings towards the sport, making me want to stop where I was at, and leave the facility empty handed.
But no, I couldn’t stop.
There was something inside me that forced my body to wake up before seven in the morning, drag myself five miles from my house, and chase after a ball for two hours. I wish I knew what it was, but I couldn’t tell you. My attitude was despicable, but I knew that if I tried, I could achieve something great: but something I necessarily didn’t want to achieve. I put everything aside and played as well as I could have after a year off from soccer.
I made the team, what a drag.I tried my best to put fourth an effort, but I didn’t seem to produce the amount of energy to sufficiently provide evidence that I knew the game of soccer well enough. Even though I despised what I was doing, there was something inside me that made me want to get to the top; become a starter.
After about the third week of practice and games, I achieved what I had dreaded but become addicted to. Pushing myself through pain and misery had paid off. Whether I liked it or not, I had done something that I would’ve thought possible, but never seen as possible.
Maybe I can order an attitude adjuster on eBay. But who knows?

1st draft

Can’t sleep, cold, and flustered. Waking up in a tent four feet by four feet isn’t necessarily ideal when you are planning on getting beauty sleep. Low on oxygen and lower on energy, the last thing I want to do is to trek six hours up an incline that most professional skiers find themselves going down.
Out of the tent to congregate with the group, we learn our route, and try to stomach a low grade mountain meal. The enthusiasm shown by everyone can merely be described as cynical. Once we leave our camp, the pain follows. I try to escape the trek by floating away with my iPod, but by day three, nothing seems to be escaping the ground. My family has always been an outdoors family, with the exception of me. I’ve always been the one asking for a somewhat relaxing vacation every once and a while rather than one that forces me to push myself to the limit.
After hydrating thoroughly, everyone seems to catch a second wind. We hike and hike until we feel as though everyone deserves a rest.
The top is near, everyone is exhausted, and all I can think about is the way down. I know that I can push myself further, but I am happy that I have been able to accomplish something so intense. My ears begin to pop ferociously as we near the summit, and the complaining ceases. We reach the top before any other groups do, and the view is unforgettable. Being atop Africa is something that many kids can’t say they’ve done.
At that moment, I realized my accomplishment and never asked for a relaxing vacation again.

Background

Barry Manilow is known for many things in America. But nothing describes him better than an innovator. His song writing captivated Americans everywhere, and his charisma made him a family favorite.