Convincing Win

Tuesday flew by.  Only one class (a long lab) and practice.  I got a lab back from last week and did worse than I thought I had done.  My TA graded much harder than all the other TA's as well which I don't know how to confront the situation.  Especially since I've done all these labs before in high school, this lab should be very easy and an easy A for me.  It's disappointing.  

On to Wednesday.  I got a solid nap in between my classes and our game vs. Marymount.  Always good to get extra rest.  We left school around 5pm to play Marymount in nearby Arlington, VA.  Due to traffic it took like an hour to get there when it only took like 20 minutes to get back without any traffic.  Anyway we played in some park off-campus from Marymount with a nice turf field.  I started right mid, which is different from my usual spot of left mid.  It took some getting used to, but its not all that different.  I played solid and I was pleased.  We ended up scoring three goals in the last five minutes of the first half which really just put the momentum in our hands.  We ended up winning the game 6-0 and convincing and confidence-boosting win.  We now turn our attention to a big game this saturday vs. #16 Susquehanna.  Home game, family is coming, I'm looking forward to it.  

I keep sending mom things to add to her list to bring me.  It's so nice that she spends the time to bring all this stuff up for me.  It's really convenient that I don't have to go shopping in the city; it just shows up whenever mom comes to visit!  Tomorrow Mom, Dad, and Nelson come up to the city.  It will be nice to spend some time with them this weekend.  

Today is just another daily grind, but always looking to improve.

-TZ

The Daily Grind

Monday was basically just like any other Monday.  Classes and boring stuff.  I did get to meet with my philosophy professor to talk about my big essay that I was disappointed in.  He knows I really want to get an A in the class and he said as long as you keep working you don't need to worry.  I will be working but I will also keep worrying haha.

I was also looking forward to naptime all day.  I slept for an hour before practice and it was so nice.  I love having time to be able to do that during the day.  It makes for a much more energetic practice.  Head Coach Beauchamp's wife had her baby yesterday and it was a girl.  That was very exciting news and he couldn't make it to practice.  Instead we had coach Sanford coach us and practice was decent.

Now I think I'm getting kind of sick.  Everyone has been getting some sort of cold and I think it has finally gotten to me.  It sucks.  I just keep taking Emergen-C hoping that will perform some sort of miracle.

That's about it for me.  Just keep on grindin day in and day out.

-TZ

Successful Weekend

I just realized I haven't updated this all weekend long.  I've been trying to keep up with it but I've been pretty busy.  I think Wednesday was the last day that I posted.  Today is Sunday already!  So I guess I'll start with Thursday.

Exciting news about Thursday, I got my Calc test back.  The class average was a 60..  I got a 99!  I wish I could just do math all day and not take the required English and Philosophy classes.  I then went to Chem lab where we did a really basic lab and I was out of there real quick. It's kind of nice to have done all those labs already before.  Thursday practice went well too.

Friday came along really fast.  It seems like the weeks fly by here.  I went to English and Philosophy and then Calculus class.  Nothing too eventful there.  We then had a quick meeting before practice on Firday.  Every three years the team travels overseas and this summer the team is planning to go to Barcelona.  We would travel for ten days in early August playing three matches and watching a professional game while sightseeing etc.  I am really excited for it.  I am glad I haven't been to Spain already too.  Then practice went well for our pregame.  After that we had a team bonding dinner.  We all hitched rides to a junior's house where they cooked dinner for the whole team.  The house they had was so sweet.  It had like four stories and a ton of space.  There were a total of eight people that lived in the house so it easily held the whole team.  It was a good pregame meal.

Saturday we had to be on the bus at 10am.  It took so long to get to Moravian.  The bus driver drove so slow it was ridiculous.  We watched Anchorman, a classic, and I Am Legend.  About four hours later we got there.  Coach Beauchamp didn't travel with us because there was a chance that his wife may have her baby and he wouldn't want to miss that!  So all three assistant coaches traveled with us.  I started the game and had a sweet shot which could've been so sweet if it went it.  We ended up winning two to zero and I played well.  It was nice to have Lisa and Aunt Babe there to watch as well.  We then traveled all the way back to campus and hung out with the team.

Sunday is basically a wasted day.  I did almost nothing.  Slept in real late and watched football and cleaned my room.  It was nice to catch up with Dad as he traveled back from CNU for Michael's game.  They won 2-0 as well and he started too.  Overall it was a good weekend and looking forward to another busy and eventful week ahead.

For now,

-TZ

Wacky Wednesday

Wednesday was all over the place.  I woke up and went to my LC classes.  In philosophy, we got our big papers returned.  I got an 85 on it.  I am pretty disappointed about that.  I just am really not interested in philosophy and it's a challenge for me.  Now I'm going to have to go meet my professor and try to show him that I want to succeed in the class and how I can improve.  I thought these LC classes were supposed to be easy.  Turns out, they're my hardest classes!  Ridiculous.

After that slight disappointment I had to rally to take my Calc test.  The test was to last from 12:10 to 1:00 pm and right before the class, coach texted all of us saying we needed to try and meet at the bus at 1:00pm.  There was no way I could do that, so it added a little bit of stress that I did not need.  Anyway I went in to Calc and took the test.  I think it went well so I was pleased about that.  I'll let y'all know how I did when I get it back.  Anyway I turned it in about ten minutes early and booked it to the cafeteria, grabbed a sandwich to go and grabbed my stuff for the game in my room.  Luckily as I was headed down the road to get to the bus, I saw an upperclassman who was also running late driving so I hitched a ride with him.  Saved me a solid five minutes.  I ended up getting to the bus at 1:15 pm and was way too sweaty for a bus ride.

St. Mary's was about two hours away and I slept about halfway there.  The good thing about being in the front of the bus is that I get to have two seats to myself.  So much more room that way.  We started warming up with about 30 minutes before the game because we were running late.  Anyway I got the call for my second start which was very exciting.  Two starts in a row; I'll take it!  I played well and had a shot on goal that I really should've put in the back of the net.  You make some, you miss some.  I just need to start putting some goals in to take my play to the next level now.  We went into half 1-1 even though we were practically all over the other team.  They got a cheap PK for a goal.  I then started the second half as well and had the hockey assist for our second goal.  I played a nice ball through the midfield where Hunter played the forward who got tackled in the box and won a PK.  We ended up winning 2-1 but probably should've been a greater difference in the number of goals we won by.  We dominated possession and the play of the game.  It's a good start as we enter conference play this weekend against Moravian.

We got back to campus around 8:30pm and I did some laundry and relaxed with some peeps.  I figured I could relax after having a fairly stressful day.  Many ups and downs but staying positive because there is definitely room for improvement in my philosophy class which I will just have to work more for.  I woke up this morning, started a rough draft of an english paper due Friday and have class starting at 12.30pm.  Practice will be intense today but we need it to prepare for Saturday conference play.

Also congrats to Michael and CNU who beat Lynchburg last night as well.  And unfortunate loss for Nelson and ICS last night.  Just keep working hard and motivating the team.  That's how you win in middle school.  Lots of encouragement.  Wednesday had lots of soccer in the Zimm fam who is always there for support.

Take it easy,

-TZ

Rainy Days

Yesterday evening was quite eventful.  We were told to meet early before practice in the meeting room for some community service.  It turns out that our team would be adopting a five year old boy who has a brain cancer and a tumor on his brain stem.  The whole family actually came to meet us, including the child.  No one was expecting such a touching moment.  The kid was so shy but really cute.  We listened to his mom tell all about his struggles and surgeries and such and it really put things into perspective.  We then spent some time playing soccer with Jacob and his siblings on the soccer field.  It was great but we all just felt so bad for him.  We then had practice which was relatively uneventful.  Played solid.  We then had an athletic meeting in the Pryz for all student athletes.  The speaker that talked was very inspiring.  This guy went through high school almost as the perfect kid, never drank, got great grades, and had a baseball and football athletic scholarship for college. He tore his knee twice and starting drinking and doing drugs.  He was addicted to alcohol and drugs since he couldn't play sports and he ended up driving drunk one day and flipped his truck three times, wrapped it around a telephone pole and killed his best friend.  He ended up going to jail for four years.  After jail he finished his degree and now he gives talks all around the country to college student athletes.  He is a perfect example of how your actions have great consequences.  In short, it was quite the emotional evening and gives us a lot to think about how we live our lives.  We go though day in and day out taking a lot for granted, when tomorrow is not even promised to us.  Lots to think about.

Then today, Tuesday, definitely brought the rain.  Thinking back on it, we haven't had almost any rain at all since I've been here though besides maybe one day.  Today was most rainy though.  I walked from my Chem lab to the cafeteria and was DRENCHED by the time I got there.  I also found out that my "rain jacket" is not waterproof... What help is that?! My pants, shirt, jacket, and even socks were drenched.  I won't be wearing that "rain jacket" in the rain any time soon again.  I guess it was good that our game got cancelled ahead of time.  It is now scheduled for tomorrow at 4pm still at St. Mary's College in Maryland.  It worked out perfectly because I could attend my lab that I would've had to miss and I can still make my Calc test tomorrow (I hope).   Instead of practice today, we are going to have a "swimming practice."  Coach sent out an email to meet on the deck of the swimming pool with our swim trunks.  I don't even have my bathing suit; I guess I'll just wear a random pair of shorts.  I don't even know what he's going to have us do.  I can barely swim let alone do specific strokes and stuff!  It's  going to be quite comical.

Anyway that's about it for today.  It's probably going to be a late night studying for my first Calc test tomorrow.  Three classes, one test, and a game tomorrow.  Long day ahead.

Stay dry,

-TZ

Strive for Improvement

Saturday we played Messiah.  They are ranked #9 in the nation and we knew they were going to be solid.  The real exciting news is that I got my first collegiate start.  The junior that usually starts hadn't been playing as well, so I was called on to start the game.  I was announced and got to run out with the team for the National Anthem.  And mom was there to see.  It was pretty neat.  I played well and created a few chances.  They scored within five minutes on a free kick which was their only goal of the game.  We fought the whole game to get it back, but had no luck.  We unfortunately lost 1 to 0 after a hard fought game.  We hung with them though which is a positive to look at.  There was definite improvement from WEdnesday's game as well which is good.  I didn't start the second half and didn't play as much as I wanted but I got some time so it's alright.  I just need to keep getting better and getting more and more time.  If coach sees that I keep working to get better and better, I will get more time and potentially more starts.  We shall see.  I also really appreciate Andrew Bajwa coming out to support me and the team.  It's always nice to have supporters in the stands.

I spent the rest of the evening with Mom.  We went to Mass and then out for dinner at Dupont Circle in downtown.  We ate at a place called ELephant and Circus and I had a huge steak and mashed potatoes with green beans.  It's always nice to have a break from the cafeteria food.  We then said goodbye on the metro and I headed back to campus while she flew out the next morning.

SUnday was a relaxing day.  I slept in and watched football.  Great to see the Eagles off to a 2-0 start!  I spent most of the day procrastinating my work and watching football.  I got some work done later in the evening though.

Today I just finished my English and Philosophy classes.  In English I got a B+ on my second paper which is a slight improvement from the B- on the first one, but still not in the A's where I want to be.  I just want to keep improving, slow and steady.  Philosophy papers will be given back this week which are a big part of the grade, and to be honest, I'm kind of nervous about getting that back.  I just really do not enjoy Philosophy and am not very good at it.  Calculus is up next and our first exam is on Wednesday.  Going to be doing a lot of studying for that these next two days!

Anyway that's what has happened over this past weekend.  My point is that all I want to do is keep improving, whether it's in soccer to keep improving my play and playing time, or in school with grades and writing papers and such.  I just need to keep getting better and making an effort with coach and my teachers to get where I want to be by the end of the season / semester.  I know somedays might not always get better but that's what I'm working for.  Improvement is the recipe for success.  

Get better everyday,

-TZ

Tough Guys

This goes along with today's post that I forgot to insert:

Me and Mom mean muggin on the metro.  Haha no one's gonna mess with this squad.  Just thought everyone might enjoy this pic.

-TZ