What Makes Me A Footballer by Adi Agarwal

What makes me a good football player    by Adi Agarwal 8IC

Sometimes people ask me what makes me such a good football player; what the reason is behind my passion and respect for the game and what gives me the confidence to push myself to the limits and excel. Let me walk you through some of the reasons I play football well.

Firstly, you need to know the basics properly; don’t expect to get anywhere if you have no idea what you’re doing. I can say with great confidence, that I know how to kick a ball properly. A few incidents to support my statement :

While training for an inter school tournament (School of India), I took a shot from the half line and it hit the crossbar. This is seen as a remarkable accomplishment in football, for those of you who don’t know. While playing in my community, I took a shot that had so much power that it broke the keeper’s glasses.

There are many different ways to kick a ball; knuckleball, chip, inner foot curve, outer foot curve, volley, half volley etc. When I had a training session, the coaches told me to demonstrate the different way to kick a ball in front of everyone. I was thrilled to know that they believed I had mastered the techniques.

My coach believes that I have a lot of potential, this is very key in order for you to play well. It gives you the much needed self confidence and support to push you to your boundaries. A few incidents:

While training for a tournament my coach kept telling me ways and tactics to improve my game – a sign that he believes in my abilities. At the tournament, when my team was playong against our main rivals, Greenwood High even though I missed a few chances to score goals and wasn’t playing that well, my coach didn’t substitute me off because he knew I had potential, he didn’t give up on me, which is very crucial in order to boost self confidence. If others don’t believe in you, you start second guessing yourself and mess up everything you do.

In the same match, at half time when my coach was giving the whole team a pep – talk, he called me in front of everyone and yelled at me. He even kicked me. I could see how much he wanted this. His face –red with sweat, blood, tears and whatnot. This gave me the motivation and determination to play the bst football I’ve ever played, and sure enough I scored a goal.

The mark of a great football player is making his presence felt on the pitch. All the people I play with find me intimidating and are scared of me. Whenever I play with friends in my complex, while making teams if one team picks me, the other team gets two picks. This shows how scared they are of me.

Whenever im attacking  my coach tells me play aggressively and put pressure on the opponent. This is what football players need to possess in order to succeed.

I hope reading this gave you an idea of exa

My habit of Straight Forwardness By Aarushi Tewari

Often, people ask me why I am so brief and blunt with what I have to say. People who are close to me know that I, despite the situation, will say exactly what I mean. When someone insults me or my loved ones, i retaliate quick as a flash. 

   When people insult me, I go straight up to them and argue it out. Once, one of my friends had called me "too childish to talk to". I felt hurt, and I wished that I didn't consider her one of my friends. To retaliate, I called her a "two-faced backstabber", as she had insulted me for no fault of mine. 

   Another time, my family friend, Anya, was talking to my best friend, Vanessa. The two of them seemed to enjoy talking, so I assumed nothing was wrong. Only later, when I was skating with Vanessa, did she tell me that Anya had insulted her. Not only was I annoyed with Anya for hurting my friends feelings, but i was irritated with Vanessa for not telling me earlier. I was furious at both, so I didn't speak to them for a long time.

   The main reason that I show my feelings is to prevent a conflict such as the one between Anya and Vanessa, and so that if it does happen, it stops early. 

   Another reason is my closeness to people. I absolutely can't stand it when someone insults my loved ones. In case it does happen, I retaliate to prevent it early on.

   When my dog was a puppy, he was easily excitable and loved jumping. He used to love getting petted by new people. Once, when I took him for a walk, a stranger started walking towards me. My dog assumed he was coming to pet him, and started jumping, woofing and wagging with joy. The stranger was taken aback, and called my dog a "rabid mutt". I was infuriated, and I told the man to leave my dog alone. Surprisingly, he did so.

   As you can see, my straightforwardness comes out alot, sometimes at the wrong place and time. It often irritates me, but I embrace it fully, as it is a part of who I am.

I Stand Up For What Is Right by Sara Bhaskar

                    I Stand Up For What Is Right

What most people know about me is that I stand up for what is right. I don’t hesitate to speak out when I see someone doing something that fits into my definition of “wrong”. And let me tell you, I didn’t look in the dictionary. I cannot stand unfairness, and when people are being unjust I rush in my helter – skelter way to make things right. Good intentions nevertheless, I tend to blurt out complex ideas all in a jumble in less than 30 seconds, confusing everyone including myself, and making the problem, if not worse, certainly not better. But there are times when I’ve certainly improved situations by intervening. I am very protective of my friends and if anyone does anything to hurt them, I immediately jump to their defense. I know the difference between right and wrong, and not to cross the line. However, I cannot keep quiet and mind my own business – that’s the thing about me. Also, to me if you are my parent, teacher, friend, or sibling, if you have done something wrong it’s still wrong no matter what. There have been several incidents to prove I feel this way.

For example, just a few weeks ago I saw my friend being mercilessly teased by another person for absolutely no reason. In hindsight, it was my friend’s battle to fight and I probably should have let her stand up for herself. “Leave it Sara, don’t get involved,” my friend Reynaa advised. However, her words had fallen on deaf ears, and she knew this as well as I did. I marched furiously up to that person, and told him exactly what I thought of him. “…..and don’t ever speak this way to my friend again” I finished scornfully, dazed at my own daring. However, inside I was feeling insubstantial, as a wisp of smoke, so light that I might float away.  “You shouldn’t have done that,” rebuked Reynaa. Maybe I shouldn’t. But I felt I had done the right thing. Perhaps, I should let people deal with their own problems – but it’s not my nature to do so.

Another time, the big issue in our apartment was that the children had no place to play. Mosquitoes, the dark, rains, the lack of adult supervision, a fear of ghosts (long story there), strangers, fast cars and a strange musty smell ruled out the terrace after seven o’clock – the Multipurpose Hall and the basement. So, the corridor was our chosen place, the setting for our fun, noisy games. However, every day, an unknown aunty from the third floor hung over the railing, peering at us with short sighted eyes, and yelling at us hoarsely to keep the noise down. She went on about this until we were heartily sick of her. Once she even came down especially to shout at us. When she had finally departed, we decided that we would not stand for this anymore. I suggest we make a poster of protest and put it up on the notice board. My idea was met with eager agreement and everyone got to work. Armed with thick white chart paper and sketch pens, we vowed not to give up until we had a proper place to play. The poster, boldly titled in capital red letters “GIVE US A PLACE TO PLAY” was signed by all of us at the bottom. Very pleased with our effort, we put the poster on the notice board. The results of this “protest”? No one said anything, but the aunty refrained from complaining. It was understood, we had won. The corridor was ours now.

Sometime back, we children were having an argument in the corridor which was growing more heated and intense each second. One of my friends turned to me, her face twisted up, and her eyes swimming with tears. “Stop it Sara, you’re a home-girl and your Mother is so mean now, she does not let you play anymore.” A wave of anger crashed over me. How dare she? My Mother, I might add, DOES let me play. I can’t play so often because of my growing pile of homework (thanks, Inventure Academy.) It’s not because of my Mother. Nobody can insult her and get away with it, so I impulsively stormed to my friend’s house, simmering with barely concealed rage. When her Mother answered the door, I told her in a voice of icy calm, what my friend had been saying. “Please make sure she doesn’t do it again, Aunty, I don’t like it,” I said politely, forcing the flat sounding words out. Then I turned around, and walked away.

To conclude, I always stand up for what I think is right. I can’t be any other way - I guess I was just brought up to think this way. But I don’t mind a bit, of course. I’m sure you, the reader, can understand – it is part of who I am.

I am a Gamer by Robin

I AM A GAMER

There are many hobbies that people have in life. They can range from sports like football and basketball, to watching television or studying. But my favorite hobby in life is also one I’m overly addicted to – gaming. Firstly, they are good for pass time. Secondly, they teach me new words. Thirdly, one can make company. Now to go in more detail…

Games are good for pass time. What I mean to say is that they are fun and interesting.

For example, on the last day of sixth grade, before the term exams, we were allowed to play games during computer class. I had gone and seen some guys play a game called ‘Minecraft’. I wanted to play too since many people talked about it. So I went ahead and played. Playing Minecraft for the first time was the best time of my life. It was an open world game with no rules. That is were the fun came from. It was a survival game where one crafts a lot of stuff, collects resources, goes to three different dimensions and face other challenges. That is the interesting part of it.

Another example - in eightgrade, one day we had computer class. I was talking about what I did in Minecraft, to Aditya (one of my friends in school). He then talked about a game called Trove. I went home and downloaded the game on my laptop. It was amazing!! It was like Minecraft with more fighting and adventure, and was also a multiplayer game. The fighting part is what made it fun. It is also an open world game with a lot of dungeons and challenges and that makes it interesting.

Another game I found was TF2 (Team Fortress 2). This was a shooting and action game. But it is crazier than you think. I love shooting and action games and that is why I love TF2. Again there are more challenges and missions which made it interesting.

Games teach me new words. So games are also teachers to me.

For example, when I started playing Minecraft for sometime, I found words like flint, stronghold, beacon and mineshaft.

Also, when I started playing Trove, I learned words like melee, tome, radiant, etc.

I learned most of the words from RotMG(Realm of the Mad God). I learned words like sprite, nexus, realm, amulet, ent, staff, orb, shrine, brute, etc.

So games did teach me.

I not only learned words and had fun, but also had a lot of company.

In fifth grade, my friends used to talk about RotMG. I didn’t play games that time so I wasn’t able to talk with my friends. So I decided to play games from now on. From that time on, I had a lot of company.

In eight grade, which is now, I have more company because I play more games and even better ones than in fifth grade.

So now you guys and girls know why I play games a lot. In fact I play nearly three hours of gaming a day.

THE END

Change Is Not my Cup of Tea by Shreya Nair

I like my life to be the way it is, normal,same type of routine everyday more or less. I don't like change. That's the truth, full stop, end of sentence. I do not like change. I don't want life my life to be a constant repetition but I want  or like control over most things. Change makes me uncomfortable and unsure, my schedules and routines get messed up and it can mean that I have to leave a special place, thing or person behind. I get scared when things change and it can mean that I have to cut or sever a tie or bond. Let me explain my reasons so that you have a clear picture.

First of all, when things change I become uncomfortable. For example I need to carry particular things with me almost everywhere. I need a necklace on at all times, sometimes I forget to put it on and I feel like I'm missing a part of me and my peace of mind, I also need to have my comb-mirror thingy , lip balm and to a certain extent kajal. Things that I identify with home or normality always calm me down, and make me feel like I am perfectly prepared. I generally have a bag which has my stuff wherever I go. Without things like these I come up with a million situations when or where I could have used them. This always leaves my unsure of things and uncomfortable, even though it's small it can leave me shaken. Some how these things just calm me down.

Moving on to the next reason, change is very disruptive, it is like it was made to annoy me. I get annoyed when someone changes their schedule and it changes mine. I don't like to change my routine because I find it quite hard to adapt to new schedules, surroundings and things. When this happens I end up wasting time and being confused. When my room is cleaned I never like it because my haven or little corner of this world is being changed. I react strongly and my mood is messed up. This can can even be a huge thing when my mom volunteers for a new thing all of a sudden. It takes time to adapt and get used to things and that's what I hate.

My final reason is that when things change it can mean that a person , place or thing that is special to me is left behind . When my mom tries to clean my room , she always picks out my old things like toys, books, clothes and other odd things. But I can't throw them away! They are like old friends and symbols of my life and they hold so many memories. Once I had my hair cut and besides tears streaming down my face when it was cut I kept the cut hair after that , in fact I still have the hair I'm too attached. 

I realize that even though I don't like change , it doesn't mean I can stop it or escape it. I will still have to ' Go with the flow ' and accept it . Even though change unnerves me , I can and will understand and will overcome my fears. This also makes me feel that change is not always  'evil' and sometimes for the better, like when a person changes for the better, sure it is change , it is hard to adapt to and even worse when they change too much but its acceptable I can't do anything about it .

Only recently I have come to terms with my thoughts on change. I even feel that my personality has stayed the same  but also means I can't get rid of bad habits. I doubt and second guess myself when things change .And this brings me to the end of explaining to you why I don't like change . Ho much are you willing to let change change you ?

"Our dilemma is that we hat change and love it at the same time ; what we really want is for things to remain the same but get better" -Sydney J.Harris

Shreya Nair 8IC

Dance by Rasjaswi Singh

“Dance is more than just a hobby it’s a passion”

                                                                             Dance is the body and mind’s escape it helps million others like me escape from our daily busy routines. Everyday is spent in a hurry to get to work, get to school,get to l3 class(most important) we never stop and think all the rush usually causes stress and many different not-so-pleasant emotions arise within us,anger, sadness, disgust, fear etc. (I’m quoting inside out characters!!!) a very easy solution to this is dancing, as ridiculous asthat sounds, its true!! Dance helps you “see the world as it is, infinity”. Dance is a movement that comes from the heart and is expressed through the body. And that, my friend, is why I’m the kind of person who loves to dance.

                             Dance is my escape, my passion and my second voice. I dance because my heart tells me to, I dance because I can escape the world when doing so, I dance because it is a way to let off some steam without hurting anyone, I dance because there are a million reasons to. I have danced my way through many situations (see what I did there? Admit it, it was punny!!)  without   causing anyone much heartache . So today I’m going to tell you a few incidents where dancing helped me and show you how dancing might just be the key for you. : )

                         I remember this one time when I super worried about something and dancing got me to relax. so it was my uncles wedding and I was incharge of the entertainment part of the celebration I was supposed to get everyone to dance and enjoy, you must be thinking easy-peasy, but no, it isn’t “easy-peasy”  specially when you have to drag people on the dance floor, dance , all while wearing a 80 ton lehenga. I became Manavi (<3) for some time and started imagining the worst ‘what if I trip and fall in front of 700 people’ , ‘what if none of them want to dance and I end up making a fool out of myself’, ‘what if someone spills a drink on me ‘ millions of scary little thoughts raced through my head but I chose to ignore them as the music played I made my way to the dance floor and danced what I had been practicing

                                                                                           Soon I was surrounded with millions of adults, children, teens all of them dancing their hearts out I was so proud of myself. We all danced till like two in the morning and I was still fully energized. I love dancing I can’t help myself irrespective of what I’m feeling happy, sad, angry etc.

                                              I also remember this one time when I was sand because my dog passed away he was like a best friend to me and after him passing away I felt broken, sad, and empty. It was like a huge part of me missing. Every time someone tried to talk to me about it I would burst out crying It was like someone reminding you about how hurt you are. So I decided that I needed to get this out of my system so I got up, went down, and played a few songs after a while I relived everything through my dancing. The day I first saw him, how he was there to support me when I first learnt how to walk , how during winter I would cuddle up with him and sleep and the day he passed away I was crying by the end but I felt lighter and felt ready to let him go on his funeral I didn’t cry over his death , instead I celebrated his life. Dancing helps me express my feelings and get rid of my anger.

                                                                                        I get lost in my own world when I’m dancing and momentarily forget all the troubles in my life.  Like this one time I had lots of homework to do and I had started to procrastinate. I started to jumble thing up and tried to multi-task (tried being the keyword). So I decided to take 10 minutes of and try to calm down. I tried doing yoga It didn’t help me because I am a very hyperactive teen and couldn’t sit straight for more than 17.67 seconds (yes I was timing myself) so then I thought it should go read a book but my neighbor decided to blast “cool for the summer”  on her brand new speaker I got distracted and started dancing and jumping around the bed after the song ended I realized that 30 minutes were already up ,but how? I couldn’t believe it I spent the last thirty minutes in la-la land completely relaxed and calm while I should be hyperventilating about my homework, but I was feeling calm and collected (even though I’m not most of the times). I finished my homework really early and even had time to spare!!! .  This is why I feel dance can really helps build  a people’s personalities. It can make them calmer, more open, and less angry. There are many reasons to dance these were mine what are yours?

I am a Lazy Person by Aditya Sharma

A quite well known fact is that I’m a lazy person or a nicer way to put it would be that I have to be pushed to work in terms of anything such as something as simple as waking up on time. That’s something i have a big issue with, but the list doesn’t end there. I am reluctant to help around the house, since my maid left this has slightly gotten worse but i try to help around the house wherever and whenever I can. Somewhere I also have a slight problem is with sports I play sports but my complex is so small that there’s usually nothing to do, so I don’t play too many  sports.

My first point is my reluctance to wake up in the morning to prove this i have written an ordinary morning of my life: So a normal day for me starts like this my mom or my dad walk into the room and start asking us to wake up and then they stand at the door to make sure we actually get up and not just go back to sleep. I’ve stopped using my parents as a primary method to get up instead I’ve started using an alarm clock and my parents are there as an insurance policy in case I feel the need to sleep slightly longer. However there have been times when I have missed the bus. This one time when it happened my dad was angry that I missed the bus anyway so when a another school bus he got really mad and he started screaming at the driver of the bus, it wasn’t really

that bad of damage but my father really was mad at the bus driver.

So my greatest learning from this experience is that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. This means if you do something bad than something bad will happen to you like Karma. This is getting better as in I’m not missing the bus and I’m using the alarm clock more often but it’s not like it hides my laziness; it comes out for me in different aspects such as what we will talk about in the next paragraph me helping around the house.

Since my maid left I have been forced to help around the house a lot more like cleaning the dishes and making my bed, I absolutely hate doing chores so i try to avoid them as often as I can. But if I can’t avoid it and i have to do it than on completion it leaves that really great sense of achievement it almost convinces me to stop being as lazy as I am. But that sense really is something that makes you truly happy. But we haven’t finished our story just yet read on…

 When it comes to sports I just try to not do too much. I like playing sports but living in my apartment where nothing ever happens I have started to turn towards the lazier side. A year ago I would have gone out to play but now I would rather sit comfortably at my desk with a book rather than go out because nothing happens in my complex. But I’m trying to change that for one reason because my mom wants me to change and also because I’ve learnt that you should never let laziness get the better of you ever. So I go out for runs around the lake but that’s about it.

So after all my adventures I have learnt that every action has an equal and opposite reaction, another major lesson is that doing something always leaves a sense of achievement that really makes you happy. My last lesson is that you should never let anyone or anything ever get the better of you, especially laziness.