Life Lessons From a Ten Year Old, Heading Into Football Season

As the students begin the new school year both academically and athletically at The University of Arizona, why not start the year with a positive outlook and a ‘can do’ attitude as we head into football Season.

The ten-year-old who will hopefully inspire you is my ten-year-old self. Seems like a great time at this juncture in the school year when all the students are moving in, the football players are practicing in pads getting ready for their first game on September 3rd, and with classes starting next week to read an inspiring story. This is a personal story from my youth about perseverance and determination and how that can translate into success.

Brought up in Southern California, Mar Vista to be exact, there weren’t many opportunities for girls to play organized sports in the 1970’s, what was a girl who loved sports to do? For the record, I didn’t just love sports; I was completely enthralled and consumed by sports.

Shereen and her Dad in the 60’s photo taken by Mom Roberta

I was the oldest of three daughters; my dad had always wanted a son. Eager to fulfill some of my dad’s dreams, I sat next to him and watched all the baseball, basketball and football games while this accomplished Nuclear Physicist from JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratory) explained to his young daughter all the rules and how to enjoy watching and cheering on our teams.

One Sunday morning I explained to my father that I had a really fun dream the night before. I think I was eight years old. The dream was classic me; I dreamed I played in the NFL and played center of all positions. I was hiking the ball to the quarterback. I declared that I had so much fun in the dream that I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up: an NFL player.

These days, a parent may even embrace that idea for a split second, ‘maybe she could be a place kicker?’ In those days, no way Jose, no girl or woman was ever getting near a football field, a locker room or a broadcast booth, or write about sports let alone to play in the NFL.

Arizona Wildcats /

Arizona Wildcats

He promptly told me that this dream of mine was never going to come to fruition, for one, my chest was going to grow. Even I giggled at that response, I had no idea. He politely asked me to give up all dreams of working in football or in sports at all. He did say though, ‘you can do whatever you set your mind to, you can be anything you want to be.’ I guess except becoming a player in the National Football League, well he was right on that count.

At the time, I didn’t think he was being mean, I think he just didn’t want to see me disappointed. Being a huge Bruin fan, he did take me to games and helped me to be an educated sports fan which helps me in my present day ventures.

I learned a lot from my father and I miss him to this day as it’s been 20 years since he passed on. I learned from a very early age that I would have to break barriers and stretch norms to be involved in the thing I loved the most, sports. While the girls at Mar Vista Elementary School were jumping rope and playing jacks, my best friend Patsy and I were lining up to be picked out of a bunch of kids for teams to play a game on the blacktop.

More from Wildcats Football

The games we played were not games for girls to play, basketball, kickball, dodgeball, softball, volleyball, you name it. Patsy and I wanted to defy all odds; we wanted to play with the boys! I had two reasons I wanted to play with the boys; 1) I had a huge schoolgirl crush on one of the boys, and more importantly, 2) I loved competing and playing sports.

We wore dresses, and we wore our patent leather go-go boots which slipped and slid on the black top, and we were determined to play and be recognized. You are probably assuming we were always picked last and my friend you would be right, last every time. After a while, it didn’t bother me much because I was just happy that I was picked at all.

The boys weren’t ever really pleased that we wanted to play, at least that’s what we thought, and I secretly wished I knew if our performances commanded any respect and if the boys really didn’t mind after they saw we had skill, serious dedication and we had the desire to win.

All I have to do is want it, and make good decisions to get there, and somehow the universe guides me and shows me the way.

Lucky for us, the park across the street had a league available for girls to play softball, and I begged my parents to let me sign up. That first year I was the youngest player in the league and desperate to command some respect now that I was playing with girls!

You would think that I would have had that opportunity easily and fairly quickly. Unfortunately, it was not much different from the elementary school black top and my coach always motioned to be to bunt when I came up to bat and stuck me in right field for half the innings she let me play.

I spent a lot of time at the park. After practice, I would watch the boys play baseball, the same boys who I spent all my lunches and recesses with. My crush, Danny, was excellent, and I spent time sitting with his mother cheering him on. That took a lot of guts as I was called a ‘tomboy’ by many, and I wasn’t sure I was embarrassing Danny or not. Besides, while everyone else was watching The Flintstones cartoon at home, I was watching a live baseball game in the park, what could be better than that?

Shereen’s first softball team, second in from the left in the bottom row

I will never forget the day I call ‘redemption day.’ On redemption day, I had been selected to play third base (I graduated from right field a year earlier) on the all-star team and awarded the Most Improved Player. Yes, I had made it that far…these weren’t days with scholarships for girls, so there was no real goal other than to compete, have fun and learn teamwork which helped out later in the business world when I got there.

The crosstown rivals had come into town for the All-star game. The game was pretty even through four innings (the game was five innings.) It was the bottom of the fifth inning, there were two outs, the score was tied and it was my turn to bat. I had noticed out of the corner of my eye that Danny and a couple of his friends had come over to watch the game, this was a first! Had they really wanted to watch me play this time? I was so excited and nervous all at the same time. I felt God had set this up, and I was thanking her profusely, praying that I wouldn’t mess this up.

The coach was signally at me to bunt, of course, she was. This brilliant coaching decision earned me two strikes. One thing it did do is get the infielders to move in closer to me in the infield. The coach motioned bunt again. The thoughts rolling through my head were that my coach was an idiot; can’t she see that I can swing away now and possibly win this game for the team? She earnestly kept showing ‘bunt.”

At this point in my young life, I really was an introvert and much the complete and total opposite personality than I present today. I looked at the coach. I looked up at Danny who was smiling from ear-to-ear, and then I looked at the pitcher who gave me that totally smug look thinking she had the win in her pocket, and I did the unthinkable, I actually swung away! The ball went over the second baseman’s head and landed way out in the outfield between right and center field, shocking everyone including the other team.

More from Zona Zealots

I made it to first and the coach was motioning me to stay put, but I ignored her stupid advice once more and ran to second. I have to pause here and tell you that I was a very slow runner, although on redemption day I had some extra pep in my stride. When I got to second base I saw that the outfielder had fumbled the ball so instead of settling for a double, I ran to third.

The throw to third was overthrown and missed by the third baseman. I don’t think anyone was expecting me to run at all or do anything other than bunt and run from base to base. This was what made the whole at bat so sweet; I was in the process of exceeding other people’s expectations of my capabilities. Much like our football teams ‘Our Kinda Guys‘ expect to do this season.

So I decided on my own, feeling like a young Yasiel Puig (Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder), ‘screw the coach I want to score a home run!’ So I ran to home without even thinking and slid into home plate. Miraculously the throw home was wide left and missed by the catcher! It was a miracle! A home run, albeit on errors, but it was a home run none-the-less. GAME OVER!!!!

I learned then that you cannot make assumptions about how people feel and harbor it for decades. It only hurts you.

Everyone in the crowd was cheering and I looked up and Danny and his friends were clapping and all I could think of was that it was all worth it. All the rejection, all the stare downs, all the ridicule from being called a tomboy, all the coaches who didn’t have confidence in me, everything I had harbored all those years and had endured washed away that day in that moment.

I carry this experience with me throughout my life, and I feel that there is nothing I cannot do, nothing. All I have to do is want it, and make good decisions to get there, and somehow the universe guides me and shows me the way.

I came to So Cal in the summer before third grade and I think Patsy and I played sports with the boys through Junior High School at Webster Junior High until our parents moved us both to different cities. We are still friends to this day; we have both been through a lot. I caught up with Danny as well about five years ago, we reconnected on Facebook.

After all those years, I had always felt badly that I must have embarrassed him with my attention and pushing my way into playing games on the black top with him and his friends, and I just wanted the chance to apologize, so we exchanged phone numbers, and I picked up the phone to call.

I felt like I was back in fifth grade but I went ahead and called Danny, now Daniel, and he immediately answered the phone and we had a long wonderful conversation catching up on everything. After I apologized for probably embarrassing him all those years, he actually said he didn’t remember it ever bothering him, and that he enjoyed the attention and playing games with me at recess and lunch. He was an angel and it was some 30 odd years later. My elementary school experience had a nice bow on top of it after that healing phone call.

Don’t ever let others define your potential or how successful you can be or if you are a winner or not

My point is, I learned then that you cannot make assumptions about how people feel and harbor it for decades. It only hurts you. Just try to think positive, like Wildcats fan Donna Williams, the most positive Wildcats fan I have met so far, and you will feel better. Heck, it can’t hurt to try, but it can hurt a lot for a long time if you don’t try!

Also, another message I would like to convey: Don’t ever let others define your potential or how successful you can be or if you are a winner or not, or even if it is possible for you to carry out something, just believe in yourself and the Universe will take care of you! Where would society be if no one ever tried to break barriers? Our Arizona Football team is under-rated, but it will be fun for them to surprise people, experts will be eating their words hopefully.

I haven’t had the easiest life, but I keep on going. I have a great supporting cast in my husband of 27 years, my two wonderful and successful daughters who just happen to be Arizona Wildcats, a great day job and a finally after a lifetime of sacrifices, I can say I am a sports writer and broadcaster. Timing is everything, and so is having faith in yourself. I have accomplished all of this, and I am not done yet.

I wish the students a wonderful year full of meeting new people, learning a whole bunch of fantastic things, and pushing the envelope. I also wish our athletes, coaches in all the athletics at Arizona and AD Greg Byrne much success this year in whatever facet of life that includes!

BEAR DOWN WILDCATS!

Note 1: There are several Arizona Wildcats football players who are an inspiration for me personally who I would like to give a shout out to Khalil Tate, Kendal Franklin, Antonio Parks, Sammy Morrison, Jamie Nunley, Jake Burton, Tyliek Raynor, Devaughn Cooper, Scooby Wright and even Shaquille Richardson who always perseveres and never gives up his dream. These players are all unique and driven, at the same time respectful and care a lot about the fans. I hope if they read this I can inspire them as well.

Note 2: In case you missed it, the Arizona Cardinals hired as the first female coach, Jen Welter, in the NFL, which is an incredible step forward. According to ESPN, “The Cardinals hired Jen Welter as an assistant coaching intern for training camp and the preseason to work with inside linebackers.” Welker is a former professional football player (running back) who also has earned both a master’s degree in Sport Psychology from Boston College and a PhD in Psychology from Capella University.

Next: Arizona commit Jake Burton loves to sack Quarterbacks!

BearDown! Go follow your dreams, and don’t let anyone tell you no!

Home/Wildcats Football