My multi genre collection will be on the topic of temptation. Temptation is a universal experience, something every single person no matter their age or background, must face. Temptation is a silent opponent, one that doesn’t play fair, and often doesn’t show up until we are tired, desperate, or doubting ourselves. It appears in many forms, a shortcut, a secret, a whisper in your head telling you to take the easy route. In my collection, I chose to explore temptation as a force that influences our choices and defines our character, especially in the world of sports where pressure, performance, and identity collide.
I’ve experienced temptations in small ways myself. Whether it is to cheat a drill in practice, to skip a workout because I am tired, or to eat something I know I shouldn’t be eating. These moments made me wonder, what does temptation look like when you are fighting to be the best at something?
My first piece in my collection is my fictional piece, called “The Cycle,” tells the story of a high school basketball player who turns to anabolic steroids in pursuit of being the best player on his team. The short story format allows me to humanize the internal struggle behind a decision that might seem simple from the outside. I wanted the readers to feel the pressure, the fear, and the cost of falling into temptation. This story shows how quickly temptation can spiral into regret, and how even one bad choice can change everything.
To complement that story with real world context, I created an article for my non fiction piece called “Temptations and Steroid Use in Sports.” This piece dives into the psychology, and statistics behind steroid usage in teens and amateur athletes. I explain how temptation leads young athletes towards dangerous shortcuts, and what can be done to prevent it. I chose this format because I wanted to give readers facts that support and expand on the emotional truth of the fictional story, showing that this issue is real and far more common than we might think.
My last and final piece will be a poster that highlights how society normalizes the easier option, even if it could potentially cause long term harm. This poster suggests that to resist temptation it will require courage, discipline, and a willingness to go against the crowd