Jumping jacks and butt kicks (Howard Lake High School)
Writing in Augmented Space
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Script
Do you see that huge building on the left, dropped awkwardly into the middle of a cornfield? Hit your turn signal and pull in. [sfx: sound of a turn signal] That’s the new Howard Lake High School, the place where I finished off my years in high school. The school you see on your left as you drive to the back of the parking lot was built when I was a junior.
Drive straight, and you’ll come to the back of the parking lot. Take a drive down that driveway, going down the hill, and park next to those bleachers. Step out of your car, stopping in front of the football field, the huge light poles towering above you. I watched countless games on that football field on Friday nights during the fall. The players would run through that gate right there and onto the field, ready to take down their opponent.
See that paved track surrounding the football field? I can’t tell you how many miles I ran on that track and how many hours I spent down on that field stretching before going on a long run. [sfx: sound of running on pavement] It was back when I ran track and field and cross country in high school and was an avid runner.
“Everyone gather ‘round and get in a circle,” my cross country coach would yell, signaling the start of practice. Everyone found a patch of grass on that field in front of you and started stretching. “1, 2, 3, 4,” everyone would say together as they held their stretches.
Then we’d start our sprints. We’d run down to that goal post on the right and sprint across the field to that post on your left. [sfx: sound of running] Once warm-ups were done, it was time for the day’s run. We all gathered right there on the track and divided into groups. I was a distance runner, so I set out on my 5-mile run for the day. Other runners gathered over there on the track, to your far left, and prepared to do their run while jumping over all those hurdles scattered throughout the track in front of you.
I’d head out across that parking lot behind you and onto the highway. Then it was around the country block. The sound of gravel beneath my green tennis shoes was all I could hear as I made my way past familiar lakes and fields. [sfx: sound of running] Sweat dripping down my face, I told myself, "keep going, keep going." As I took in the sights and smells, mostly of fresh cow crap, I pushed myself to keep running, to not give up.
That track lying in front of you is where it all began. It’s where I discovered my love for running. It’s where I became part of a team. And it’s where I learned to never give up because hard work is what will get you places in life. The sweat and hard work helped me reach success at the end of every run, a success that I was more than satisfied with. It might not have been the most fun all the time, but I knew that I would be more content working hard for something than taking the easy way out.
As you turn around and head back to your car, parked beside those shiny new bleachers, think about whether your successes have made you content in life. Get in your car, and let’s take a stroll around that country block where I ran almost every day. Fire up your car [sfx: car starting], and head back up that hill. Hopefully you’ve got a full tank of gas.