Graham's Personal Connection- Hockey
Sports have helped build my identity throughout my entire life, specifically in regards to hockey. Although the sport itself builds character and instills values like trust and teamwork, it is the position I play that has had such an important role in shaping who I am today. I am a goaltender. My job is to stop the pucks from going into the net. Although this seems like a relatively simple task, the pressure is almost indescribable. Imagine having the weight of the team rest on your shoulders every time you step on the ice. You can be the hero or the villain because every time the other team scores a goal, the blame can always be put on you. Being the last line of defense, all eyes are on you all the time. One game you can be praised while the next scrutiny is unavoidable. Your performance is reflected on the scoreboard and any mistake you make results in a tally for the other side. Coping with this pressure was not that easy at first. When I was just starting out, the other kids didn't know that the goalie wasn't supposed to save everything. It's ironic that as the years went by, the criticism was less intense because my teammates began to realize that it is a rare case for the goalie to pitch a shutout. I could also cope with adversity much better at an older age. Through hockey, however, I was taught how to control nervousness and stress. I became accustomed to dealing with pressure. I didn't let criticism get to me, and still don't. All of these lessons that my position helped teach me have served to benefit me during everyday life. Whether it be staying calm while taking a test, or reaching my fullest potential on an assignment, I always thank goaltending. In a position where not giving your full effort is unacceptable, you learn to do your best in everything life throws at you.
Another aspect of goaltending that is unique to any sport is the fact that a goalie's identity is for the most part unknown. Once I put on that mask I can step away from reality and become a different person. No one can see my face as I wince in pain after a slash to the arm or give a maniacal smile after saving a shot. It is the element of the unknown that makes the position of goaltending a game by itself. The other team doesn't know who I am and they never will. My mask becomes my face and all that can be seen is the dark shadow behind bars.
Hockey has also helped developed traits that my parents have instilled in me throughout my whole life. They have had to overcome many obstacles and have taught me that when you suffer a failure, it is unacceptable to linger on the negative. Feeling sorry for yourself will get you nowhere. When I allow a goal in hockey, I have to erase my memory, or else I won't be able to forget what I could have done better. When facing adversity in hockey or in life, I have always persevered, remembering the positives and thinking how I can improve in the future. My biggest inspiration came from watching the gold medal hockey game in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. The game was between Canada and the US. In sudden death overtime, the United States goalie surrendered a goal to lose the game and the gold medal. I didn't think he would ever be able to recover from this downfall. However, on the handshake line, he held his head high because despite losing the game, he was proud of himself for what he had accomplished.
Another aspect of goaltending that is unique to any sport is the fact that a goalie's identity is for the most part unknown. Once I put on that mask I can step away from reality and become a different person. No one can see my face as I wince in pain after a slash to the arm or give a maniacal smile after saving a shot. It is the element of the unknown that makes the position of goaltending a game by itself. The other team doesn't know who I am and they never will. My mask becomes my face and all that can be seen is the dark shadow behind bars.
Hockey has also helped developed traits that my parents have instilled in me throughout my whole life. They have had to overcome many obstacles and have taught me that when you suffer a failure, it is unacceptable to linger on the negative. Feeling sorry for yourself will get you nowhere. When I allow a goal in hockey, I have to erase my memory, or else I won't be able to forget what I could have done better. When facing adversity in hockey or in life, I have always persevered, remembering the positives and thinking how I can improve in the future. My biggest inspiration came from watching the gold medal hockey game in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. The game was between Canada and the US. In sudden death overtime, the United States goalie surrendered a goal to lose the game and the gold medal. I didn't think he would ever be able to recover from this downfall. However, on the handshake line, he held his head high because despite losing the game, he was proud of himself for what he had accomplished.
Jamie's Personal Connection - Ballet
I have danced since I was two years old. My mother took me to Ballet Academy East in the city. When we moved out to Long Island shortly before my fifth birthday, I went to Danny Holstein's Two Worlds. There, I took jazz classes and then ballet classes. In seventh grade, we switched to Hannah Kroner's School of Dance, and I still dance there. Dancing has always been an important part of my life.
Part of identity is what is important to you and the sameness and continuity. I have always danced, only stopping when I injured myself (which happened often in the last few years). I now take ballet classes and have learned to grow a little bit more comfortable with dancing in front of other people.
When people come to see a ballet, they often do not know the identity of the ballerina. With elaborate costumes, people watch how graceful and beautiful the dancer is, but they may not know who she is. In a ballet, most of the girls who do not have the solo part are all dancing in unison. They all look the same. What sets them apart from the others? Is it their grace? Is it how perfectly they land their turns? All of these and the individuality each person puts into the dance contribute to the identity of the dancer.
Dancing is an individual sport and a team sport. People can dance alone or can dance in groups. There can be partner dances, and in one dance, people can dance together, individually, or with a partner. When a person dances individually, the focus is only on them, and they have the pressure of dancing alone. Yet at the same time, it is all about them, and they do not have to worry about taking each step in synchrony with other dancers. When people dance in groups and with partners, they focus on the others and try to hide their individuality so that it does not disrupt the dance. Yet the identity of the dancer is still important and still evident to the audience.
When a person thinks of a ballet dancer, he/she usually thinks of a female dancer. That is a gender stereotype that has stuck with society for generations. However, ballet is not a sport that is just for girls. Many boys take ballet and are a necessary part of certain dances. They dance in partner dances, some waltzes, and are needed to do lifts. In the gender-stereotyping of the musical instruments, more boys were reluctant to chose the girl instruments becuase of social pressures. This has been a common theme in dancing, too. Although there are many male dancers, many boys are afraid to try dancing because of social pressures. With gender identity, we discussed gender roles and how society places these pressures on us. However, times are changing, and society is beginning to accept more than it had accepted in the past. There is a blurring of the lines between what sports a man can play and what sports a woman can play. Male dancers can feel more comfortable dancing in our time than they could have felt in previous times.
For my personal, I chose dancing because it is an important part of my life. I chose to dance to the Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker. Waltzes are more graceful and have a sliding movement rather than jumping. I feel this reflects my identity because I am not a very jumpy and outgoing person. Instead, I believe I slide quietly through situations. The waltz is usually in three-four time, and in dancing, it has a common, down, up, up step. The most common of these steps is the balance. To take the balance step to the right, the dancer puts out his/her right foot. The foot is flat on the floor and the knee is bent into a plie. The left foot comes back, and the weight is shifted onto the toes, in releve. Next, the weight switches back to the right foot, which extends forward, and then goes into releve. The step can be repeated to the left when the left leg is extended, with the foot flat.
Dancing has always been important to me, and it will always remain an important part of my identity.
Part of identity is what is important to you and the sameness and continuity. I have always danced, only stopping when I injured myself (which happened often in the last few years). I now take ballet classes and have learned to grow a little bit more comfortable with dancing in front of other people.
When people come to see a ballet, they often do not know the identity of the ballerina. With elaborate costumes, people watch how graceful and beautiful the dancer is, but they may not know who she is. In a ballet, most of the girls who do not have the solo part are all dancing in unison. They all look the same. What sets them apart from the others? Is it their grace? Is it how perfectly they land their turns? All of these and the individuality each person puts into the dance contribute to the identity of the dancer.
Dancing is an individual sport and a team sport. People can dance alone or can dance in groups. There can be partner dances, and in one dance, people can dance together, individually, or with a partner. When a person dances individually, the focus is only on them, and they have the pressure of dancing alone. Yet at the same time, it is all about them, and they do not have to worry about taking each step in synchrony with other dancers. When people dance in groups and with partners, they focus on the others and try to hide their individuality so that it does not disrupt the dance. Yet the identity of the dancer is still important and still evident to the audience.
When a person thinks of a ballet dancer, he/she usually thinks of a female dancer. That is a gender stereotype that has stuck with society for generations. However, ballet is not a sport that is just for girls. Many boys take ballet and are a necessary part of certain dances. They dance in partner dances, some waltzes, and are needed to do lifts. In the gender-stereotyping of the musical instruments, more boys were reluctant to chose the girl instruments becuase of social pressures. This has been a common theme in dancing, too. Although there are many male dancers, many boys are afraid to try dancing because of social pressures. With gender identity, we discussed gender roles and how society places these pressures on us. However, times are changing, and society is beginning to accept more than it had accepted in the past. There is a blurring of the lines between what sports a man can play and what sports a woman can play. Male dancers can feel more comfortable dancing in our time than they could have felt in previous times.
For my personal, I chose dancing because it is an important part of my life. I chose to dance to the Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker. Waltzes are more graceful and have a sliding movement rather than jumping. I feel this reflects my identity because I am not a very jumpy and outgoing person. Instead, I believe I slide quietly through situations. The waltz is usually in three-four time, and in dancing, it has a common, down, up, up step. The most common of these steps is the balance. To take the balance step to the right, the dancer puts out his/her right foot. The foot is flat on the floor and the knee is bent into a plie. The left foot comes back, and the weight is shifted onto the toes, in releve. Next, the weight switches back to the right foot, which extends forward, and then goes into releve. The step can be repeated to the left when the left leg is extended, with the foot flat.
Dancing has always been important to me, and it will always remain an important part of my identity.
