Should Kids Play Competitive Sports?

Mohammed Islam 711 Ela Argument Essay: Should Kids Play Competitive Sports?

In America, a tremendous thing here is American Football, which is a highly competitive contact sport. As much as we love football, you have to admit, it is a hazardous sport. But not just football,but in general, all competitive sports are dangerous. These sports can affect you both physically and mentally. Kids might push themselves too hard which can hurt themselves. Also kids can go over-competitive, which they take the sport too serious . Kids should not play competitive sports because theres a chance that the kids can get seriously hurt, or just fall into a lot of pressure that gets into their head.

For one thing, playing competitive sports can leave a risk of getting seriously hurt, dealing with long term injuries, or even worse, death. In a New York Times article, “For Children in Sports, a Breaking Point” by Jane E. Brody, it states that, “Every year more than 3.5 million children under 15 require medical treatment for sport injuries, nearly half of which are the result of simple overuse.” Some key things were stated in that sentence. One thing is that 3.5 million children require medical attention, thats a lot of kids getting hurt. Also, it says nearly half being from simple overuse, meaning that kids are trying too hard because of the atmosphere of competitiveness around them. Kids want to win, resulting them to try so hard that they might overdo themselves, or knock some other player out from being too aggressive. Another  thing is that a few people said that they won't let their kids play football, as said before, a highly competitive sport. In an ESPN video ex NFL players Terry Bradshaw and  Tj Houshmandzadeh, said they won’t let their kids play the sport. Also, president Barack Obama  said that if he had a son, he maybe won’t let him play football. Two NFl players, two players who played in the big league said they won’t let their kids play football. Why, because the sport is so physical, that you can be on the floor unconscious in any minute. Barack Obama, the president of the US, said that if he had a son he wouldn’t let him play the sport. To conclude, the competitive sports are so scary that even NFL players won’t let their kids play.

Another reason why kids shouldn’t play competitive sports is that  kids can fall into a lot of pressure. In the Kids Health article, “Competitive Sports: Help Kids Play it Cool,” it states that, “The pressure to succeed can be overwhelming and that can lead to a lot of frustration and tears... pressure is external: kids try to satisfy the demands of a parent, coach or other authority figures and end up feeling like winning is the only way to gain the approval of the adults they respect.” Children can fall deeply in the sports, so does their parents. The parents want to see their kids win, resulting the parents to set high expectations for kids. Kids might try too hard to reach that expectation, or they feel like the can reach the expectation resulting them to think that they would disappoint the parent. The kid wants to make the parent proud of him and her, so they think too much about succeeding. Another thing is that kids want to win, so they might have try to play through injuries. In a Today.com video, a hockey player got blown in the head, but all she was thinking about was getting back into the game. Also in the Today.Com video, it stated that 92% of kids say that they hide their injuries. The competitiveness of the sports can get into the head of kids, resulting them to only care about playing the sport and winning. Also, back to the part where parents pressure kids, kids might play through injuries to try to impress their parents. Also, some parents might pressure the coach to let their kid play even if he or she are injured. To conclude, parents might pressure the kid, resulting them to fall into a lot of stress.

But on the contrary, playing sports is a way for kids to feel better about themselves and boost confidence, so it can be beneficial for the kid. In the article “Cave Competition, it’s good for you:Column” by Joseph de Sena, it states that, “running 300 consecutive miles as one painful example --and a kid from Queens, I know firsthand the pain and glory of winning and losing. Competition is cruel and America needs a whole lot more of it.” The author knows firsthand how it’s like playing a competitive sport, as he said he ran 300 consecutive miles. He knows how it’s like to win or lose. When he says America needs a whole lot more of competition he does have a good point. When you win in a competition you feel great about yourself. When you lose, you might feel a little down, but still feel like you had a lot of fun, so it’s like a win-win situation. However we shouldn’t think this because you still can fall into stress from playing the sport. Even though you might’ve had a great game if you lost, there can be that chance where you feel like you disappointed others when you lost. Even though you might feel like you had a wonderful experience playing that game, you can still make yourself feel bad.  

In conclusion, kids shouldn’t play competitive sports because it can hurt them physically or mentally. The child can be in risk of injury and can fall into a lot of stress that leads them into being highly upset. As much as kids love playing these sports, it can be bad for them, and they need to wait until their bodies are fully-developed to start playing these competitive sports so they won’t get hurt. Also, they need to be in a better atmosphere with no pressure from adults, which can be caused from playing competitive sports. Unless these problems can change, kids should not be allowed to play competitive sports.

Bibliography:

1. Brody, Jane E. "For Children in Sports, a Breaking Point." The New York Times. The New York Times, 24 May 2010. Web. 27 Jan. 2015.

2. ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures, 2 Oct. 2014. Web. 29 Jan. 2015.

3. "Competitive Sports: Helping Kids Play It Cool." KidsHealth - the Web's Most Visited Site about Children's Health. Ed. Michelle New. The Nemours Foundation, 01 Mar. 2011. Web. 29 Jan. 2015.

4. Sena, Joseph De. "Crave Competition, It's Good for You: Column." USA Today. Gannett, 12 Oct. 2013. Web. 29 Jan. 2015.

"Building Bridges" Reading Response

Mohammed Islam 711 10/27/14 ELA Essay

“Mama Lil hated the six studs I wore in my left ear; I hated the tacky red hair wig she pulled down close to her eyebrows whenever her hair wasn’t done.” This line is just a grand parent and her grandchild argue because they both think different . The short story, “ Building Bridges,” by Andrea Pinkney is about how a 17 year old girl named Bebe has one dream, and that’s to become an engineer. The dream of hers can start from a rebuilding bridge project that she got the opportunity to do. All she needs to do to is get a signature from her guardian Mama Lil. But unfortunately, Mama Lil refuses to give in her signature because of past experiences and the two would have arguments about the opportunity. Eventually Mama Lil signs the paper after Bebe persuades to let her go. But, the only reason and Mama Lil and Bebe were having arguments about the whole topic of engineering is because the young and the elderly are from different generations making them have different perspectives  on things from their knowledge, which this short story brings out.

For one thing, the youth and the elderly can argue on each others appearances. Mama Lil thinks Bebe’s style will never land her anywhere. On page 18, Mama Lil says, “How you ever gonna land a decent man with them chunky arms and those hoochie-cut T-shirts that put your navel on parade.” Mama Lil being from an older time might not have been used to their modern day style. Back then, people could’ve wore more formal clothing that shows less skin. In Bebe’s time, people could where more loose clothing that shows a little  more skin. In Bebe’s perspective, on page 19 she says, “When some homey tries to snatch all that shiny tin off your seventy-three-year-old neck, don’t come crying to me.” In Bebe’s more modern time there could be more crimes and thievery, where in Mama Lil’s time it maybe wasn’t that bad. Also during Mama Lil’s times people would try to show off their wealth, by wearing fancy things such as gold chains. Because of how people are in Bebe’s time compared to Mama Lil’s time, they both think different about appearance and how you can get affected by the way you dress.

Another example of Mama Lil and Bebe had different views  on things from experience  is that Mama Lil didn’t want to sign the permission slip because of racist and stereotypical  issues. On page 21, Mama Lil says, “whatever you call it, it’s a white man’s work.” Mama Lil used to live in a time where white people and black people were drinking from different water fountains, a place where if you were black you would have to give up your seat in a bus for a white man, a time where white people absolutely  hated african americans. Mama Lil could’ve thought bad things could happen if Bebe tried to do this so called white man’s work. Also Mama Lil could think that it can be hard for Bebe because she is a women. On page 20 Mama Lil states, “If God had meant you to do a man’s work, he would’ve made you a man. It’s that simple.” Mama Lil lived in a time where it wasn’t just unfair for black people, but it wasn’t fair for women. Women didn’t have many rights, they were seen as just people who would stay home  take care of the house, children and men. Women didn’t even have the right to vote. Mama Lil could’ve thought the men at the job would’ve been harsh on Bebe because she was the only girl working on the bridge. Because of all these issues Blacks and women had to face, Mama Lil thinks that these issues can strike Bebe and make it hard for her.

A final example of how Mama Lil and Bebe argue because of their different views is the actual reason why Mama Lil didn’t want to sign the permission slip. In Mama Lil’s perspective, she found the building bridge project as a way for her to be all alone. On page 29, Mama Lil says, “Your dreams are the kind that will take you away from here, Bebe- away from your Mama Lil. You got big hopes, child, but they gonna leave me alone, by myself.” Bebe found the project as a chance for her to become an engineer. Mama Lil in the contrary also finds the project as an opportunity, an opportunity for Bebe to leave her all alone. If Bebe goes to the Brooklyn Bridge project, then eventually she might get another opportunity, but that opportunity could be one that might make her have to leave Mama Lil. Then Bebe tells Mama Lil on page 29, “ Mama Lil, I got to find my way,” I said slowly. “If that bridge renovation wasn’t tapping on my soul, I’d go ahead and sweep hair down at Rimley’s.”Bebe does know that Mama Lil is correct. She feels more sympathy for Mama Lil, knowing that they only have each other. But, as she said, she has to find her own way. She wants this bridge project badly, she wanted it more than anything. That’s why she didn’t want that job application for Rimley’s. Mama Lil thought the project as a bad thing, a way she can be all alone with no one, but Bebe still thought the project as a great thing, a direction toward the path she has so follow in order to achieve what she wants, another disagreement because of different views.

In conclusion Mama Lil and Bebe argue a lot because they have different experiences because they were born in different time periods. Both had different perspective on appearance,  racial profiling and how one thing can affect them positively or negatively. Andrea Pinkney did a great job on accomplishing this message, by showing what each person were thinking during the arguments they had. Also, she shows how each character reacted to what the other one said. Mama Lil had many regrets about letting Bebe go. Both of them will have to go through a lot, but still will have bright futures, Bebe getting what she wants and Mama Lil cheering her on.

"My Name"Mohammed Islam 711

Mohammed Islam 711 9/23/14 "My Name"
            My full name is Mohammed Sameen Islam. If you look at it, it sounds religious, and indeed it is. The definition of the name is Mohammed is precious to Islam. but really I'm not that religious. I do try to follow our 5 pillars of Islam. Our 5 pillars are to donate to charity, which my family does time to time. Another pillar is to is to pray 5 times a day which I try my best to do and to read our holy book the Al-Quran which I do as well. Another pillar is to keep fast during our Islamic event Ramadan, which I can do. Another pillar is to visit the Haj, which is our God's house which I didn't do yet, but I will sometime in the future. Of course the final one is to believe in our god.
           Also, I feel as the name Mohammed is like a bunch of marbles, it is all over the place. What I am trying to say here is that the name is so common that you can see a Mohammed anywhere. We think the name Mohammed is so beautiful that we like to pass it down .Even though there are a lot of Mohammeds in the world, I don`t mind honestly. They were received that name to show respect to our prophet.
           I have a nickname. That nickname is 'Mo' which is short for Mohammed. Only my friends call me this. But honestly, I don't like the nick name. I feel as if the nick name is too cool for me(and no I'm not self-conscious). I feel that the name Mohammed is just more professional. By the way, I have this stupid nickname that one of my friends made up which is Mola. Apparently, it's a combination of Mo and mula, which is so dang stupid. I mean I'm not a gangster or anything, like seriously.
          Finally I feel as if Mohammed is a dark blue color. It is a serious name that should not be made fun of . But I'm not that serious. But I am insanely clumsy, which I got from my mom. I can't go a day without tripping or falling. Also I drop a lot of things. I break a lot of glass at home. One day I broke a glass table. I thought I was Hercules and tried to throw a big rock across the room, but of course I'm not Hercules, so yeah, shattered pieces of glass everywhere
         Even though I don't have a lot of traits to be a Mohammed, I still love my name. I respect the choice of my name and my religion. My name is an awesome name that I'll never change.

ELA Assignment

Mohammed Islam  711

         In the book  Rules by Cynthia Lord is a book about 13 year old Catherine who is always making up rules for her brother, David who has autism. Catherine then befriends a boy named Jason who is paraplegic, and uses a book to communicate. The theme of this story is that there is problems with all of us, and you shoudn't judge that person because of there problems.

         An example of this is that at first, Catherine didn't want to go to the dance with Jason because she thought that her appearance will be bad if she comes wit Jason. In the book, Catherine didn't want to come when Jason asked her. this connects to the theme of the story because Catherine didn't want to go to the dance because of Jason's "problem."To conclude, Catherine thought her image will be bad if she went to the dance with Jason.
        Another example that shows that you shouldn't judge a person because of there so called "problem", is that Catherine didn't want to go to Jason's birthday party because she had to bring her brother, and she thought that her brother will embarrass her in front of Jason.In the book,  Catherine had an argument with her mom about going to the party and bringing her brother, David.Catherine thought bringing David will be an embarrassment because of his autism.
       But in the end, Catherine went to the dance with Jason and had a great time with him. She learned that she shouldn't think about a person because of their "problem."So in conclusion, know that we all have some sort of problem with us, so don't look at other people because of their problem, but how they are as a person.