Growing up, I had low tone issues in my upper body. I wasn’t able to successfully complete motion activities including swinging on a swing, riding a tricycle and throwing a ball. Thanks to years of physical and occupational therapies, my tone skills improved and I could do those activities with no issues, and I had a very interesting opportunity with the latter of them.
In the early 2010s, I attended four Best Buddies charity football games at Harvard, including one year as a waterboy. Tom Brady participated in those games each year, and when I was a waterboy, I was two feet behind him trying to get his autograph when the game ended. I wasn’t too frustrated about not getting his autograph because the thought of how close I was to him made me so ecstatic.
In 2014, an opportunity came for me when I was selected to participate in the game. In the weeks leading up to the game, I would go to Harvard once or twice a week to practice with other players, who also had special needs like me (i.e., autism, Down syndrome). Brady didn’t practice with us, but the coach would prepare us for the game by doing stretching, running laps and practicing catching passes. I got the hang of each activity, and it prepared me for the game, especially in the event if a certain No. 12 threw a pass my way.
For the game, every participating team would play a quarter and have a chance to play offense and defense. Brady was the quarterback on every drive, so everyone had a chance to play with him and potentially catch a pass from him. Celebrities played in the game, too, and among the stars playing with us included Tedy Bruschi, Adam Schefter and Guy Fieri.
My team was set to play in the fourth quarter. The first thing I did when I got to the field was quickly introduce myself to Brady and shake his hand. He was very friendly and it felt so cool playing with the NFL’s greatest quarterback of all time.
As the quarter got down to a minute left to play, I hadn’t received a pass from Brady nor had been a target. After our team had scored a touchdown, we went for a two-point conversion. I set myself open right across the goal line. Brady saw that I was open and threw me the ball and I caught it for the score! After the catch, I did a Rob Gronkowski-like ball spike on the ground, and high-fived Bruschi, Schefter and my other teammates.
It felt so amazing to have the opportunity to play with Brady in the Best Buddies game. I didn’t get his autograph, but I was as happy receiving the pass from him. I went from having difficulties with catching footballs, to catching one from the best quarterback that ever lived.
All I can say is if I caught a pass from Tom Brady, anyone can! Never give up on any dreams you may have. Always put your best foot forward and you will achieve what you want in the end. Doing so will make you more likely to achieve it, and the euphoric feeling you will have afterward is like nothing you have felt before.
Here's the catch!
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