Your team just beat one of your biggest rivals with 97 seconds left in the game, but what are you most excited about? The post-game cookout that your parents have prepared is the only thing on your mind. Pasta with meatballs, chicken and turkey wraps, salads galore and not to mention the dessert spread that is haunting you down the end of the table are all sources for motivation to get through a game.
The greatest part about being a student -athlete at Wheaton is the support of my parents. The countless road trips to home and away games as my number one fans, whether we win or lose, are endless. But, if I am being honest, what I am most grateful for is the effort they put in to bring me a piece of a home-cooked meal after I have just played a hot and tiring field hockey game. There is nothing better than the taste of "real food" to refuel, and the best part is that you know it's made from the heart (or take-out from your favorite local restaurant). One of the hardest things about being away at school is missing the food that is so easily accessible in your private kitchen. Knowing that after your Saturday game, there will be a little goodie bag from your mom or your teammate's dad's famous macaroni and cheese may be all you need to get through another week eating at Chase and Emerson. The comfort of these foods at the cookouts reminds you of home, which is not somewhere you can visit often while you're in season, as your weekdays and weekend schedules are filled with practices, games and catching up on homework.
In this environment, food is used a way to connect my teammates and me with our families and friends in a laid back environment. The time is spent discussing laughing, classes and workload, professors, our social lives and how things are back in our hometowns. Food brings loved ones back together temporarily as we spend the majority of our weeks apart from one another.
I also look forward to my team's extensive tailgates after weekend games, and love the comfort of seeing my family, and eating good, homemade food. As we discussed in class, food has the ability to create an experience. I think this is an interesting application. In this case, if we lose, the tailgate food acts more as a source of comfort, and a way to make us feel a little better - at least we didn't lose AND have to eat Chase for dinner. Parents try to offer us more dessert, hoping that it will help to cheer us up - again food carries emotion (cupcakes = happiness!). On the other hand, if we win, the tailgate is a celebration that involves eating as much as we can (cupcakes still = happiness, but this time we are actually happy!), discussing the game, and socializing with family and teammates' families.
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