Quick vent, might delete later. This is the last week of district football, and this athletic season, so far, has been anything but what I hoped for. I’ve worked in sports since the softball playoffs of 2022, when my sister was playing. I’ve been supported by 2 (maybe 3) superintendents of schools, four principals, and three directors of athletics—all in the same district. I really tried to go into this season with optimism, but it felt like there was (and still is) an almost complete lack of school spirit. I’ve had parents tell me that I’m “falling short” of “expectations” — the same expectations I didn’t know existed in the first place. Last year, a former employee in my district told me that coaches would say I was a waste of resources. I was cut from attending certain athletic events, among other things. These past few years working in sports have taken a major toll on my mental health—especially during my junior and senior year. In previous years, I was well-connected with c...