last goal wins
the unfairness of life and finishing well
There are a few words from childhood that can send a terrifying shiver down my spine. That can unravel the web of memories in my inner subconscious and cause genuine terror and fear.
It’s 2:09 p.m. The Head of History has an important announcement to make, the repercussions of which will echo throughout the playground and have grave consequences for years to come (well, at least for the next 24 hours).
“Let’s start heading inside everyone, 5th period starts in 5 minutes!”
It’s Thursday lunchtime, a dry April afternoon. Pollen and testosterone suffocate our sinuses. While others sit on the grass, gossiping about the latest relationship or hallway rumour, or stuff their faces with the leftover, barely edible canteen food, a much more serious and enthralling battle is being waged. A war to end all wars, a fight to the death.
Year 10 vs Year 11.
El Classico. This was much more than points or pleasure; this was for pride. The loser would have to lick their wounds, dust off the shattered parts of their ego and wait until the next term for a rematch.
But Mr Holloway’s announcement flips this conflict on its head. This encounter needs time to be resolved, but ours was running out. However, there was a clear winner. Year 11’s were dominating, leading 12-3. A poor day for us Year 10s. But a last-ditch attempt at redemption gives us a small glimmer of hope.
“Last goal wins”
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Bewilderment engulfs the cages. The Year 11s mock this gesture, thinking the game's flow will continue in their favour whilst the Year 10s, tired, defeated and dejected, conjure up one last ounce of strength and determination.
The tides shift. Year 10's heightened vigour leads to a late goal, right before Mr Holloway comes to confiscate the ball. Jubilation and commiserations. Tears and triumph. Pain and praise. But hey, I guess that’s life.
Life is unfair.
I was reflecting on how unreasonable life can be at times. I’ve seen content creators work for years and years, stuck in the 300-views prison, all to witness one creator make a viral video on their first time round and achieve the career and notoriety they’ve been craving.
I’ve seen the financially prudent struggle to obtain financial freedom while day traders on social media are selling courses on becoming millionaires. I’ve seen students forfeit the best years of their lives to chase academic prestige, only to get outdone by those who thought that essays were optional and lectures were just there for vibes.
It goes back to this idea of good people being taken for granted or that nice guys finish last (yawn).
The notion that everyone gets a fair return for their work or will get their “just rewards” is bogus. A fairytale that perpetuates a capitalistic work ethic, benefitting the bourgeoisie and giving us, the working class, a false sense of social mobility, falsely believing that if effort and determination are applied, we too can rise to where they are; also known as the myth of meritocracy. Can you tell that I did A-Level Sociology?
The “last goal wins” environment we live in means we always have to be on our toes. You never know when the next opportunity will emerge, when it will all pay off, and when your time will come. Now, this can cause people to feel unsettled. I get that. But I like that unnerving pressure.
It’s not about how you start, but it’s about how you finish
To define what I mean, “last goal wins” represents an equaliser or opportunity that may arise. This occurrence tends to void previous efforts and takes a “clean slate" approach to judging success. Once you hear those three sacred words, it’s anyone’s game.
Think about it this way. It’s not about how you set up your YouTube channel; how you designed your banner, promoted your first three videos, or came up with a catchy and engaging intro video.
Because later you got bored. You enjoyed the original rush of followers and engagement but abandoned the project. And now when brands are looking for an influencer to be an ambassador for their products, though you LOOKED great, there isn’t any SUBSTANCE.
In that case, a brand may go with someone with nowhere near your following and aesthetics but the consistency and commitment they’re looking for. Your start was great, but you didn’t finish well.
Now you may scream that that doesn’t happen in the real world but how do you know? Are you really willing to take that chance? That’s why I believe in giving people “something to binge”. You never know when you will hear that “last goal wins”. And when you do you can already be leading by 7 points and use that momentum to see you to an inevitable win or use that 7-goal deficit to motivate you to catch up.
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Life isn’t fair. Boohoo. You can either cry about it and watch the world pass you by or take your opportunities, be consistent, and be ready.
As I Grow Older, I’ve realised that time and chances come to us all, but will I be ready to take them when they call?
If it really is “last goal wins” I won’t complain about how far ahead or behind I am, I will just take the opportunity when it emerges.
Love, Peace & Blessings,
Abs
A fellow sociologist here 😎. I enjoyed reading this!
An amazing piece ! One of my top 5 blogs atm.