2025 Senior Capstone
Built by the Game: Lessons from Football
By: Dominick Aguilar
Mentor: Terry Thompson
Introduction
The most considerable influence in my high school experience was football, playing it, watching it, and being around it. Nothing is quite the same in high school football. No other sport, club, or hobby is as tight-knit and anticipated. The team is a brotherhood, everyone there has each other's backs and is willing to lay down their body to protect and fight for one another. Football brings communities together and gives everyone something to look forward to and get excited about. If we look deep down into the sport, though, it shapes the mind, body, and soul of those who play it, and I am no exception. For me, football lets me be me; I can let my emotions out and feel what it's like to be alive.
I didn't play in my freshman year, which was probably my biggest regret in high school. I watched every game but never went out for the team. Sophomore year was when I first played, and immediately, I felt I had a purpose and something to be excited about. From cold morning workouts to hot afternoon practices, it felt right. I had begun to notice that my friends had changed and grown, people began to notice me more, and most importantly, my confidence increased. I believe that confidence is the key in life, without confidence, you will never be able to succeed. Football taught me that no matter how many times you fail, you will get up and do better next time. When I first started playing, our team didn't do well, but the coaches taught me that we win or learn, and we never really lose.
Football taught me the value of hard work, and this transferred into the classroom as my coaches pushed us to do our best on and off the field. It also helped that my mother prioritized school over sports, so if I wanted to play and be there every day, I had to do the best I could in the classroom. This sport taught me to be a good teammate and listen to others' advice to learn and grow. It also taught me to be courteous and understand where others are coming from and what others feel, because even though I got plenty of playtime, I always felt terrible for the kids who didn't get much playtime even though they put in as much hard work as I did. Most importantly, though, playing football taught me leadership. It taught me to take initiative and get things done correctly and efficiently. Football allowed me to help out many others as I excelled at my position and could offer guidance to others around me. In football, there were always people who would be sad that they didn't get played much, so in practice, I would give them as many reps as I could and make them show what they could do to be recognized more. I was always happy when I would be pulled from the game so others could play in my spot. Football has taught me the value of being a student on and off the field, a leader, and a virtuous person.
Essay
Football has been more than just a sport in my life; it’s been a teacher, a motivator, and a guide. From the moment I stepped onto the field in my sophomore year, I began to grow not only as an athlete but as a scholar. The challenges of the game sharpened my problem-solving and critical thinking skills (S1). Each play required focus, quick thinking, and the ability to read situations in real time. Just like in the classroom, I had to study, understand concepts, and make smart decisions under pressure. Whether I was breaking down game film or preparing for a test, I approached both with the same mindset: learn, adjust, and improve. Football also instilled in me a deep sense of perseverance and resilience (S2). There were tough practices, injuries, and games we lost, but we always came back. That same energy carried over into my academics. If I didn’t understand something right away, I didn’t give up, I worked harder. I wanted to be excellent not just on the field but in every aspect of my life. I learned to produce quality work, not because it was required, but because it was a reflection of my effort and character. The sport also gave me a clear understanding of cause and effect (S3). If you slack off in practice, it shows on game day. If you skip studying, it shows on your grades. That awareness helped me stay disciplined. I saw how the little choices I made each day affected the outcome, and that mindset helped me become more intentional and mature both in sports and in school. Most importantly, football shaped me into a confident, lifelong learner (S4). I learned to adapt to coaches’ expectations, to the speed of the game, to new teammates, and to challenges. That adaptability now helps me approach the classroom and life with curiosity and confidence. Football gave me structure, drive, and belief in myself. It made me the kind of student who embraces learning, supports others, and keeps pushing forward no matter what.
Football has been the most powerful influence on my high school journey, shaping who I am not just physically, but mentally and morally. It taught me more than just how to block, tackle, or score. It taught me how to be a better person—someone who listens, cares for others, and stands up for what’s right. Through football, I learned the importance of living with virtue. One of the first things football taught me was how to actively listen (V1). Whether it was learning plays from my coaches or hearing feedback from teammates, I realized that true listening meant more than just hearing words; it meant focusing, understanding, and applying what was said. This skill helped me grow as a player, but also as a person who values what others have to say and who learns from different perspectives. The sport also helped me grow in empathy and kindness (V2). I’ve played games where I got plenty of minutes and others barely touched the field. I saw how hard they worked in practice, and I felt for them. That’s why I always made an effort to lift them up, share my reps, and remind them they mattered just as much to the team as anyone else. Those small acts of kindness built strong relationships and showed me the value of compassion. Football thrives on collaboration (V3). No one wins alone. Success comes from trusting your teammates, working together, and putting the team above yourself. That mindset translated into everything I did—group projects, class discussions, even helping classmates study both the plays and for tests when they were falling behind. I learned how to cooperate, lead when needed, and follow when necessary. Finally, football gave me the courage to advocate for myself and others (V4). Whether speaking up about something I believed in, or standing beside a teammate who felt overlooked, I found my voice. I learned that leadership isn’t just about being loud; it’s about standing up for what’s right, even when it’s hard. Football didn’t just make me stronger, it made me more virtuous. It taught me how to be a teammate, a friend, and a person others can rely on.
Football has been one of the greatest influences in my life, not just because of the excitement and brotherhood it brings, but because of the lessons it taught me about leadership. Through the game, I learned how to actively serve my community, respect others, carry myself with integrity, and care for the spaces and people around me. These values helped shape me into the leader I am today. Football pushed me to actively participate in my community (L1). Whether it was going out of my way to help out the middle schoolers understand the game and gain confidence, attending school events, or marching through the streets of downtown Felton to grow support, I saw how being involved made a difference. Our team wasn’t just about winning games, we represented something bigger. I began to realize that leaders give back and show up when their community needs them. It gave me pride to know that people saw our team as role models. On the field, I was surrounded by people from all backgrounds, and I quickly learned to respect diversity and different opinions (L2). Not everyone thought the same way or had the same experiences, but in football, we all had to come together as one. I learned to listen, understand, and value every teammate, no matter where they came from or the situations they are in off the field. That taught me that real leadership means bringing people together, not dividing them. Football also taught me the importance of integrity and responsibility (L3). Coaches and teammates depended on me to show up, be honest, and do my job. If I messed up, I owned it. If someone needed help, I was there. I learned that being a leader isn’t just about talking, it's about doing the right thing, even when no one’s watching. Lastly, football made me a caretaker of the environment (L4). We respected our locker room, our field, and the places we trained. I helped clean up after practices and kept our space organized because I understood that taking care of your environment shows pride and leadership. Through football, I’ve grown into someone who leads with heart, responsibility, and respect.
Artifact 1: Training and hard work pays off
Artifact 2: Beating rivals(Scotts Valley)
