3) Basketball

Basketball is my all-time favorite sport. I love to play it, and I love to watch it. It intrigues me on a deep level. The thrill of outclassing your opponents and scoring in their face is priceless. The joy of being able to launch the basketball into the hoop with accuracy and precision is unmatched.

           

I first started playing basketball when I was approximately 5. My dad would go to the community center over lunchtime on Tuesdays and Thursdays to play basketball with a group of guys. I wanted the opportunity to spend some time with him, so I would go. Being a short, weak, little kid meant I wasn’t particularly adept at shooting or dribbling the first time I ever tried. My dad would place me literally right under the backboard and instruct me to aim for a specific spot on the backboard. At first, I couldn’t even get it to the rim, but as I grew stronger and became more familiar with the basketball, I began to make my shots. Fast forward a few years, and I was still shorter than anyone my age. In order to account for the height difference, I naturally inched farther away from the defender and thus the hoop. Between the ages of 8-10, I was THE 3-point shooter. Probably the best in the area for my age group.

           

I was a part of the Midland Community Center League. Each year kids would get assigned to different teams. One particular year, our coaches instructed us not to shoot any threes, especially in a game. I did what any good, rule-following kid would do when the coaches told him to do something – I launched three-pointers like nobody’s business. Our first game, I took two steps back from the three-point line and shot the ball as hard as I could. As the ball arched towards the basket, my coaches exclaimed, “Jefferson, why did you shoot that?!” I turned from the basket and walked to the other side of the court. Meanwhile, my shot went in. Pretty thug, right? Needless to say, I was allowed to shoot threes from then on.

           

Continue fast-forwarding to my high school years, and I was still short for my age. I still shot threes 60% of the time. Sadly, I had gotten bigger, stronger, and taller which threw off my boyish Steph Curry-like shot. I was not skilled enough to play for a public school, so I applied to a local private school as a part-time student in order to try out for their team. There was no guarantee I would make the team, but I figured I had a decent chance. Sophomore year I tried out, and my coach said, “You were the last person to make the team.” I was relieved. But the difference between being the sharpshooter in elementary and middle school days versus my high school days was quite large. I was a benchwarmer throughout high school, occasionally starting the game my Senior year. I had some pretty good breakout games my senior year, though. I scored 14 points in one game where we won by one point. I stopped their best player from making the game-winning layup, while simultaneously grabbing the rebound (remember that I’m short?). That was my best game. Other games, I had several turnovers which equals time on the bench. I went back and forth. And continued going back and forth. AND continued going back forth. I wasn’t a star, but I didn’t suck like a vacuum.

           

I still play a couple of times a week with some guys I know. If you know the NBA, I’m similar to J.R. Smith. I’m a streaky shooter. I have games where I can’t miss! I could launch it from half court, no problemo. Other games, I shoot brick after brick after brick…

           

I am an average basketball player, or in other words – extra ordinary.

2) Education

I was never a fabulous student. I got along well with the teachers, but I was just extra ordinary. I never understood why people thought I was a teacher’s pet. I remember getting some B grades and C grades, but I also got a couple D’s. Other students didn’t come to me with questions to be answered, so I never understood why I was considered a teacher’s pet.

Perhaps I didn’t attempt to be the best student. In fact, I did precisely the opposite. I was the epitome of procrastination and laziness. I was homeschooled, but I took the occasional private school class or sometimes all the homeschool students in my area would gather once a week. This one day a week, we would get parents who had been chemists to teach Chemistry, physicists taught Physics, etc. You get the point. It wasn’t too shabby.

I had one class called KONOS, and it was a mash-up of History, English, and Writing. It was a 3-hour class and was expected to require approximately 25 hours of homework each week. The first couple of weeks I was an ideal student. I did all the assignments, took notes, paid attention, and turned everything in on time. However, I developed a nasty habit of procrastination. I enjoyed 3 things the year I took this class: sleep, video games (classic 14-year old boy), and spending time with friends. I enjoyed having weekends during which I did next-to-no homework. In fact, I enjoyed having a WHOLE 6 days of free time, it was an absolutely joyful time! Until Monday… because, of course, everything was due Tuesday. I can literally remember a dozen or more times where I waited until 10 p.m. Monday night to begin homework for a class that started a mere 10 hours later. Now THAT was super sucky. I stayed up all night cramming out the papers, biographical reviews, projects, and art sketches. Whatever it was, I did, just in a horrifically, barely-passing-grade kind-of way. I did that for 8 months straight. I mean, I passed the class so yay… But I was 2 points above failing. That habit formed the rest of my high school years. I did everything last minute. I tended to procrastinate my Math and English classes while excelling much more in History and Science. I got a few overall A’s and some B’s and C’s. I’m proud that I’ve never failed a class. Unfortunately, I was the average student. I just existed.

And that, my peers, is how I was an extra ordinary student. If you ever want to be an average, extra ordinary student just procrastinate the heck out of all your assignments, and you will be well on your way. 

1) The Reason I Chose to Talk About My Extra Ordinary Life

    I am an average Joe (or should I say, Jeff?). Literally, if you were to name any activity, skill, or hobby, I would be decent at it. I wouldn’t be amazing, but I also wouldn’t be as horrific as the image of Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger trying to perform a duet for a ballet recital. Now, that's not saying I'm self-conscious about myself. I don't worry about my looks for the sake of others. I didn't play basketball, learn to cook, or learn to play the guitar to impress all my friends. Even if they're ladies *wink wink*.  Just the opposite. I'm confident enough to admit that, yes, I am an average human being. I am going to be me, and I am average, decent, and extra ordinary!

What is it like being so extra ordinary? Well, I'm so good at being average that if I had to choose one skill that I ACTUALLY excel at, I would say I am extremely skilled at being average. It comes naturally to me. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3, a, b, c, sleeping, eating, blinking, breathing, and any other “-ing” you can think of.

For my blog, I will be expounding upon my extra ordinary life. I’ll be writing about different activities, encounters, and events that show how average and human I am. The topics of each post could include things like the sports I played, awkward encounters with people, hobbies, the times I excelled, the times I failed, etc. The posts will be about a myriad of topics all showcasing my extraordinary talent of being average.

To be completely honest, there were several skills and activities where I pushed myself to my limits. I practiced all the time, usually sacrificing free time, schoolwork, and sleep. I tried to break that barrier of just being average. I worked my butt off! And do you want to know what happened? Not much! Though, upon looking back I do see one change that happened during those times. I became more consistent. I became consistent at being decent and average. Like I somewhat already mentioned, I’m not ashamed that I was and still am an average guy. I was never the star of a team, I was never the most popular guy in town, but I was consistent. That’s something I can be proud of. Ultimately, the reason I chose this topic is because I am proud of being extra ordinary.



And because there is actually enough stuff to write about concerning this topic...