Artistic Achievement

Art to me is the creation of beautiful or significant things. I believe that art is not a substance or simple creation. Art is much more than that. Art brings happiness to yourself and others and makes people question reality.

The greatest artistic achievement that I have ever produced was winning a penalty kick shootout in a soccer game on the national level. It was my freshman year and I had just turned 15. My team SWFL United was playing at an international tournament in Virginia Beach, Va. We were representing the state of Florida and in many ways the United States just by being in this tournament. This tournament was filled with teams from England, France, China, The Bahamas,  Mexico, and many other countries. It was the biggest stage i had ever played on and ever single second of it was nerve wracking.

The production of this artistic achievement happened in the semi-final game of the tournament. We were playing a team from Mexico City, Mexico and had battled the entire game with them. The game went into penalty kicks, which every team dreads. In penalty kicks the pressure builds to an astronomical level and the only thing that keeps the players going is their adrenaline and their will. During the overtime our match had come to be a huge spectacle. There were tons of other teams who had lined up along our field to watch this game. Other teams from states like California, North Carolina, Michigan, and Arizona were watching and cheering us on because we were a representative of the U.S. The penalty shoot out got under way and after a couple minutes it was finally my turn. When I got up to take my kick, it was four penalty kicks to three, in favor of my team. If I made this kick we would clinch the game and advance to the finals. As I walked up to the penalty mark my legs started to shake like a wet dog. The sweat was dripping down my face and I was thinking about my teammates and what they had endured throughout the game. I set the ball down and looked at the goalie with his uneven mustache and slick greasy hair. He looked like a giant in the goal. I proceeded to take the kick and put it right in the lower right corner and past the goalie. The whole stadium where we were playing erupted in joyous cheers. I had won the game on that kick. I was quickly tackled by my teammates. When I woke up the next morning in the hotel, I had to ask my mom if that penalty kick really happened. She gave me the biggest smile and told me that it had.

After the game i remember my dad coming up to me and telling me how beautiful that kick was and how I had made this tournament worth coming to for so many families. This is why I believe that this penalty was my greatest artistic achievement. Not only was the actual kick a piece of art but it made delighted many people. I will always remember this special time.