ESSAY QUESTION: Describe a significant experience in your life.

"Five, four, three, two, one, and that's game," exclaimed the referee.

"Good game, Christine. Nice goal, Clare. Good hits, Jackie." The coach's compliments echoed in my head as the recipients smiled and pushed me aside to get to the water jug. Fairfield's varsity field hockey team sat in a circle, intently listening to our coach review the game.

Why was I put on this team if my sole function is to warm the bench? I thought to myself... I should have stayed on JV with the other juniors... at least I would get some playing time...

"Playing around at the beach as a camp counselor was great last summer, but now I'm ready for a serious, professional job," I told my dad last year.

"I don't know, Katie. Working for prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's Office will be tough. I deal with those people everyday and they can be demanding, abrasive, and just unpleasant," my father, the FBI agent, warned me.

"I know, Dad. I've seen the way you can get during a trial, but I really want experience in law and government. It'll be challenging, but I can handle it."

If I just set my mind to it, I know I can play well...I just need the chance to prove it. The thoughts nagged at my brain. No more sitting back and watching the games go by for me...I'm determined to turn this season around right now."Uh C...Co...Coach? Do you think, maybe, I could get um...a little playing time today?"

The six foot six man glared down at me and blurted, "We'll see, Marston."

"Marston? Ah, yes, here you are. Come on through." The sinking feeling in my stomach got worse as I hesitantly brushed past the metal detector at the Federal Court Building in downtown Bridgeport. "The U.S. Attorney's Office is the second door on the right," the armed guard informed me. "Go right in."

"Get in there, Marston," growled the coach. I almost fell off the bench as I threw off my jacket and snapped my mouthguard into place. "Five minutes left. We're tied 2-2. If we win this game, we're in States. Now show me what you've got." Coach slapped me on the back, propelling me onto the field.

I jogged to my position as left halfback and nervously eyed the shiny white ball. I was determined to prove to Coach, my team, and myself that I deserved a spot on the varsity field.

"Long hit," called the referee. As Jackie set up the play, I confidently positioned myself in the center of the goal circle with my stick angled to deflect the ball in.

Composing myself, I knocked on the thick, metal door of the U.S. Attorney's Office. The door swung open, and I was greeted by a frowning, middle aged woman with glasses. "You must be our new student receptionist. My name is Judy; I'll be your boss. We're very busy around here, and we have plenty for you to do." After an all-too-short and thoroughly confusing summary of the operation of the switchboard and how to handle the crazy walk-ins, I was left on my own. "Make sure you don't miss any important calls for the attorneys," Judy warned from across the hall as the phone rang.

The whistle blew and Jackie drove the ball past two defenders. I clenched my teeth, took a deep breath, raced forward and smacked the ball with all my might. The goalkeeper dove at the oncoming missile as it swished past her into the back of the net. A goal! I froze in awe as my teammates ecstatically tackled me to the ground. The thoughts danced in my head...that was you, Katie...see, you knew you could do it.

"I've never awarded a player a game ball before, until today," Coach announced. "Katie stepped off that bench, played her heart out, and got us into States."

"No that's the State's Attorney's Office, sir. This is the U.S. Attorney's Office." I sighed as I hung up the phone on my last day of work.

"Katie, it's five o’clock. You're free to go," Judy barked from her desk. "Let me just say," she added with a hint of a smile, "this is a tough place to work. You had some frightening visitors, rude phone calls, swamps of documents to file, and quite a few complaining lawyers to deal with, but you did a great job."

"Thanks Judy," I responded. "I liked the action."

Heading for the door, I thought, no more summers on the beach or sitting on the bench for me. I'll never be content just watching the game go by...