As a student-athlete at Midwestern State, I have the honor of representing the Mustangs on the football field. At times, the game can be grueling and difficult, but most importantly, it has given me the tools I need such as discipline, hard work, and structure to help me thrive as a college student. Not to mention, it also sharpens my time management and interpersonal skills, which is a necessity if you want to do well as a student or employee. 

In the state of Mississippi, the Mississippi High School Athletic Association and the Mississippi Association of Coaches come together to facilitate the annual North/South All-Star game. It is exactly what is sounds like. Some of the best coaches in the Northern and Southern halves of the state are selected to form a team of the best available players. In 2022, I was selected to play both Tight End and Defensive Tackle for the South. When it was all said and done, Team South won 16-10, and the game's organizers awarded me with the MS Association of Coaches Bill Stewart Award, named in honor of a U.S. Marine who was killed in action during the Korean War. The MAC awards "... to the All-Star football player whose attitude, character, and conduct on and off the field best exemplify the life and endeavors of Bill Stewart, athlete, gentleman, and sacrificial patriot."

In the game of football, if you have 10 games, you likely have 7 times as many practices, if not more. They are intense, physically and mentally, and require strict discipline by everyone involved. During Fall camp or Spring training, practices usually begin before 6:30am, and when they conclude, meetings, weights, and more meetings will follow. All in all, by pushing yourself to accomplish tough goals, it makes life easier in the long run.