Teamwork, Family, and Friday Night Lights
By Carrington, a senior at MHS
As I start my senior year at Milton Hershey School, my emotions can be described as anxious, excited, nervous, and determined. It feels like just yesterday I enrolled at MHS as an eighth-grader on Sept. 23, 2013. It’s been a long journey, but it’s been going by rapidly. To think my MHS chapter is almost coming to an end is unbelievable.
As my senior year approaches, I plan to start the year off running when it comes to my academics and athletic career. I’m not the type of student to slack when it comes to my academics. I take the phrase “student-athlete” very seriously, so I know I’ll put in the work to keep my GPA above 90 percent and maintain my honor roll status.
When it comes to football, I’ve been working on my skills all off-season to prepare for this year. Some of the goals I would like to accomplish during my senior year include winning the Mid-Penn Division title, making a great playoff run, and possibly going to states. I know it will be difficult and very challenging, but that’s the glory of it.
All the hard work my teammates and I will be investing together will make us closer and even more of a family. That’s what’s printed on the back of our team shirts, and we all take it very seriously.
On and off the field, we’re all brothers. I wouldn’t replace any one of them, because I know they have my back and I have theirs. The relationships we make on the football field are irreplaceable. Twenty years down the road I may not remember who sat next to me in class, but I will definitely remember who was with me, side by side, under those Friday night lights fighting to win a game at Henry Hershey Field.
I want to treasure every single moment I have with my teammates—from winning a big game to coming up short in a close one.
For the younger athletes coming up, teamwork, hard work, determination, and grit are what it’s all about. If you want to be great at what you do, you have to put in the work because skill will only take you so far. There will be times when you feel like you want to quit, but that’s when determination and grit kick in. And guess what? Your teammates will be by your side every step of the way.
As for the younger students, I say to you: shoot for the stars and take advantage of every opportunity you get. MHS is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and there are millions of kids who wish they could trade places with you.
Learn more about athletics at Milton Hershey SchoolMHS is giving you all the tools you need to become successful in life—it’s up to you to do something with them.
