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Ahhhhhhhh! The locker room. What a beautiful place! Most people think of a locker room as a gross, smelly, yucky place where guys go after they finish an activity. I look at this place totally different. The room feels like my second home. In my locker I have clothes, jerseys, tooth brush, and tooth paste. I spend a lot of time in the locker room at North Gwinnett. Before school, during school when I get ready for weight training, and after school when I get prepared for practice, and after practice. I do not see the locker room as a sweaty or smelly place. My feelings, when I walk in the locker room, are totally different from what you might expect. The way the locker room appeals to my senses is different from any other place. Every time I see that big red sign with "Pride " written on it, I know why I am in that locker room.
When I step into the basketball locker room at North Gwinnett, the feelings that go through my body are unbelievable. I feel so special and proud. I look at the black, wooden locker in the corner of the room that has a North Gwinnett basketball jersey hanging up, with my name written on the locker,"Matt Garner #10," I feel a rush that is undescribable. Every time I walk in the locker room I get a feeling of excitement. I can not wait to put that jersey on, and go out, and represent my school. The locker room is a place where all my emotions come out. If I walk into the locker room after a bad day, everything is different, all my blues go away. I feel like this is where I belong because my teammates are my family.
I can smell the sweat when I step through those doors. Sometimes voices are heard talking about the day, but usually the sounds are balls bouncing anxiously waiting to be bounced on the court. I see the 12 jerseys hung up neatly in the black lockers with chairs in front that read,"North Bulldogs." As I sit down in my chair I can feel the cushion squish to make my seat more comfortable. I can see everyoneıs face getting ready for the game or for a two hour practice. I can taste, that sweet taste of victory. The feeling of pride vibrates through the room.
Every time I walk into the locker room and when I leave there is a sign that I slap or I kiss my index and middle finger touch my heart, and gently touch the sign. This sign says "North Basketball, Itıs a Matter of PRIDE." Pride, Pride, Pride! It is what our program is all about. Every player who walks into that room feels pride. They have to. I can not understand a player in this great program not having pride. I always love the end of the day when coach says, "Alright guys lets break it down, ready..." then we all say, "Pride!"
The locker room is my second home. I feel sense a of belonging and pride to be a "Bulldog." I love to walk in the room everyday and I am sad at the end of the day when I have to walk out. The memories of the locker room when I leave this school will be great ones. I will not forget all the victories that will be celebrated in this room. The losses will not be forgotten either. All the times that I slapped or kissed that sign with pride will never ever fade from my mind. Pride is more than a feeling, pride is what we stand for!
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