I heard a thud. Four yards away, I watched the quarterback of my junior varsity football team get slammed to the ground by an enormous linebacker, a kid that looked too big to even be on junior varsity. I watched in shock as he laid there motionless waiting for the arrival of the trainer. I glanced to my right to hear our coach utter the words I had been waiting to hear the entire season: “Warm up your arm. You’re going in at QB.”

Even though I had started last season as a receiver, the only position I wanted to play was quarterback. I dreamed about throwing the game-winning touchdown as those bright Friday night lights shined on my helmet.

Halfway through a game against Lynbrook HS, I finally got the chance I had been dreaming about. Because of my limited practice at that position, anxiety hit me as hard as the starting quarterback got hit.

I jogged onto the field, my teammates stared at me with their eyes open surprised as I got continued onto the field. I approached them in front of the huddle, a spot that I was unaccustomed to. I called the play instead of listening to it, and stepped behind all the lineman instead of being away from most of the action as a receiver.

I got into position to receive the snap and shouted the words that would make my new position official. I caught the snap and looked to my left, knowing that my inside receiver would be wide open. Without second guessing myself, I turned and launched the ball towards my receiver. It seemed to travel in slow motion, taking an eternity to hit the receiver’s hands. I anxiously watched him secure the ball and start running forward before being tackled by one of the defenders.

Right when I let go of that ball, I also let go of all the doubt I had in my ability, and I felt a new sensation of confidence slapping me to my senses. My body loosened up. I went through the motions knowing that no one could take away that one pass I completed. After that play the rest of the game went uphill. I ended the game throwing two touchdowns before the final whistle blew.

I felt successful; at the the time, I had no idea that the confidence I had would become contagious.

The following Monday for the first time, I spent an entire practice in a different position with different coaches. Instead of focusing on what I had to improve and spending more time on the field, I just did my reps. The rest of the week went by in a flash and we were headed to our next game.

I spent the bus ride there reviewing the playbook in my head nervously visualizing the game. Unlike the last game, I had much more time to prepare myself. Still, I became increasingly nervous as we got closer to the school.

The game started just like the previous one, I took a deep breath and said that phrase, “Down. Set, go!” This time my unpreparedness hit me in the face. Literally.

I got drilled to the ground by a linebacker because I ran the opposite way. After the first play, all my confidence vanished; I was shocked by how badly I was playing. I only completed one pass and threw a total of three interceptions. We lost 50-0.

When I got home, I dropped down on my bed and laid there on my back. Usually, I’m an emotional guy, but I couldn’t even get myself to cry. I knew that my failures were my fault. In a matter of two weeks, I had hit the high and low of my football career.

I learned a lot from those few weeks. I learned that even if I didn’t have the starting job, I should give my full effort in practice to ensure I’ll be ready if my number gets called. I learned not to be overconfident in my ability and instead, devote more time outside of practice so I can successfully fill big shoes. I learned that football is like a math class, I should have tested myself in practice instead of thinking I would be okay.

Since then I have not played quarterback again. I’ve embraced my role as a receiver and made sure that I gave my full effort all the time in games and in practice. People say that sports teach a lot about life, and I thought that was cliché until I went through this experience. Football taught me lessons about confidence and character that I will carry along with me for the rest of my life.