Senior Series - Emmanuel Robinson

I started at Hawken in the fall of 2020 during the height of COVID. At a new school, making friends was very tough because of all the COVID restrictions, but being on the football team allowed me to make friends and connections with people through the sport we enjoyed playing. My freshman year of football differed greatly from my seasons before and after. We had to wear splash shields on our helmets to protect us from COVID, and the only people allowed in the stands were family members. We did not play our first game until mid-September, so we spent June through August just practicing. It was very difficult to endure then, but looking back on it, practicing for those three months allowed me to get closer to my teammates and build more of a brotherhood. We only played four games that season, but we were still able to build a foundation for the steps we would take in the future for the football program. 

The Hawken football program has allowed me to grow immensely as a leader, athlete, and member of the Hawking community. Although practicing was oftentimes not my favorite thing to do, I was able to learn and grow from the experiences I had during those times. Along with that, football helped me learn how to battle through adversity and overcome challenges. My favorite memories from Hawken football were our win at Harrison Central during my sophomore year and earning our first bid to playoffs since 2015. My sophomore year of football really made me appreciate our Hawken football team. While going through a tragedy at home, my teammates and coaches were always there for me to talk to and made me feel comfortable around them, and for that, I will always be grateful. Football also helped me grow and learn as a leader. In my junior year, being one of the upperclassmen on the team, I mentored and taught younger players what Hawken football was about. At first it was challenging, but throughout the season, I was able to grow and use new leadership techniques not only to make them better but to make me a better leader. 

I decided to come to Hawken because of the rigorous academics, interesting extracurriculars, and the promise of the football team. My older brother Terrence, who enrolled at Hawken before I did, helped me see how the football team was progressing. I was able to see the endless hours of film and extra work he put in, and that really helped me decide which high school I wanted to go to. I was also able to see how much the coaches cared about team success and individual improvement. I am proud to say that I and my teammates have helped bring Hawken football back to the level of consistent CVC contenders. Football has grown and shaped me into the person I am today, and I will never forget the bonds and memories I have made throughout my Hawken football journey.