I still remember the smell from the gym that sixth grade year, the musty, sweaty smell of the glossy wood. The giddiness in the gym takes me back to a time when life was pure and fun. "Teddy and Quinn." The captains for Iroquois were being announced, and in the midst of the chaos, I saw two 7th-grade boys stand up and cheer, having been declared the newest captains of my team, Iroquois. 

One year later, my clock reads 11:11 p.m. as I stay up to wish to be captain for the 9th day in a row. I am so groggy and tired and just wish to be asleep, but nothing worth having comes easy. I hope to be captain and for my best friend Danny to be captain with me. I can almost imagine Danny and me being captains. We would lead all of Iroquois during the Iroquois versus Miami Olympic Day games. We would win, and all Iroquois would have the memory of winning and glory. After I finish wishing, I immediately fall asleep and don't get to see 11:12 p.m. 

I wake up the next day and go through the motions. It's the slowest school day I have ever experienced. Even though it is half a day, the day can't move fast enough. Finally, the clock hits 12:15 p.m., and the time has come. I am exhausted, and my stomach is full of butterflies. I am desperate to know who is captain. I rush to the Atrium and watch as the entire middle school files into the beautiful, open room. All the current captains stand up facing the whole middle school and announce the names of those who will lead their team. Quinn, as an Iroquois captain, announces the first captain. A light above him illuminates the notecard that he reads the name off of, and I can already see what it says. "Ezra," says Quinn. It's finally happened. I feel so ecstatic to finally be captain. All my dreams, wishes, and prayers have been answered. But it's not over. One more name needs to be called. Teddy unfolds a notecard. He takes a good look at it, confirming it still reads what he had just written. He announces, "Danny." I am even more ecstatic than ecstatic. I am double ecstatic. It feels as if everything is going right. I am so thrilled, elated, and just happy. I can't believe what has just happened. 

This day is one that I will always cherish. Through thick and thin, being captain is an honor that I feel everyone should have the opportunity to have. Just watching somebody win captain and the pure joy that radiates off of them and their peers is something everyone should experience. Being captain is just one of the many honors and opportunities that Clark gives students, that makes it great.