The MVP Lorenzo had been the star of the Broncos football team ever since the first grade. His teammates knew he was the Most Valuable Player, even when the coach gave the award to someone else. Lorenzo could play whatever position the team needed him to play. He could play quarterback, running back, or wide receiver. He could also play three positions on defense, and his tackles were fierce.
In sixth grade, LaShonda tried out for the team. She was very fast and taller than most of the boys. Lorenzo hoped the coach would cut her, but she worked very hard during tryouts, taking hits and making plays. The coach was impressed, and he gave her a spot on the team.
"I don't care what Coach says," Lorenzo told his friends Mack and Juan. "She's going to make us lose a lot of games. Girls just don't belong on this team."
In the first game of the year, Lorenzo played quarterback. He had helped the team score two touchdowns, but the Broncos were still down by three points with one minute left in the game. On the next play, Lorenzo held the ball and looked for someone to throw it to. Suddenly, a huge player on the other team broke through the pack and started coming after Lorenzo. Lorenzo ran! If he got tackled, his team would lose, but the other player was coming at him fast.
Then, from his left, Lorenzo saw LaShonda running hard toward him. She darted past Lorenzo, leaped at the player who had been chasing him, and knocked him to the ground. Lorenzo threw the ball to a receiver in the end zone. The receiver caught the ball, and the Broncos won the game.
After the game, Lorenzo found LaShonda as she was getting into her mom's car. "I think we're going to have a new Most Valuable Player this year," he told her.

Which of the following best describes Lorenzo at the beginning of the story?
A.
talented and stubborn
B.
kind and intelligent
C.
slow but strong
D.
accepting and talented

I'm pretty sure the answer is A

Explanation:

"He had helped the team score two touchdowns, but the Broncos were still down by three points".

i have learned a great many things from participating in varsity football. it has changed my entire outlook on and attitude toward life. before my freshman year at [high-school], i was shy, had low self-esteem and turned away from seemingly impossible challenges. football has altered all of these qualities. on the first day of freshman practice, the team warmed up with a game of touch football. the players were split up and the game began. however, during the game, i noticed that i didn't run as hard as i could, nor did i try to evade my defender and get open. the fact of the matter is that i really did not want to be thrown the ball. i didn't want to be the one at fault if i dropped the ball and the play didn't succeed. i did not want the responsibility of the team because i was too afraid of making a mistake. that aspect of my character led the first years of my high school life. i refrained from asking questions in class, afraid they might be considered too stupid or dumb by my classmates. all the while, i went to practice and everyday, i went home physically and mentally exhausted.

yet my apprehension prevailed as i continued to fear getting put in the game in case another player was injured. i was still afraid of making mistakes and getting blamed by screaming coaches and angry teammates. sometimes these fears came true. during my sophomore season, my position at backup guard led me to play in the varsity games on many occasions. on such occasions, i often made mistakes. most of the time the mistakes were not significant; they rarely changed the outcome of a play. yet i received a thorough verbal lashing at practice for the mistakes i had made. these occurrences only compounded my fears of playing. however, i did not always make mistakes. sometimes i made great plays, for which i was congratulated. now, as i dawn on my senior year of football and am faced with two starting positions, i feel like a changed person.

over the years, playing football has taught me what it takes to succeed. from months of tough practices, i have gained a hard work ethic. from my coaches and fellow teammates, i have learned to work well with others in a group, as it is necessary to cooperate with teammates on the playing field. but most important, i have also gained self-confidence. if i fail, it doesn't matter if they mock or ridicule me; i'll just try again and do it better. i realize that it is necessary to risk failure in order to gain success. the coaches have always said before games that nothing is impossible; i know that now. now, i welcome the challenge. whether i succeed or fail is irrelevant; it is only important that i have tried and tested myself.

the topic of this essay is how the applicant has matured and changed since his freshman year. he focuses on football. one of the strengths of this essay is that it is well organized. the applicant clearly put time into the structure and planning of this essay. he uses the platform of football to discuss and demonstrate his personal growth and development through the high school years. what he could have done better was spend more time describing himself after he made improvements. as it is, he only tells us about his newfound confidence and drive. this essay would have been stronger had he actually shown us, perhaps by including a story or describing an event where his confidence made a difference

explanation: