{"id":13780,"date":"2020-12-07T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-07T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/concussion-by-zachary-hughes\/"},"modified":"2025-10-28T16:34:25","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T21:34:25","slug":"concussion-by-zachary-hughes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/2020\/12\/07\/concussion-by-zachary-hughes\/","title":{"rendered":"Concussion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-social-links is-content-justification-right is-layout-flex wp-container-core-social-links-is-layout-765c4724 wp-block-social-links-is-layout-flex\"><li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-facebook  wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=61556140010887\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12 2C6.5 2 2 6.5 2 12c0 5 3.7 9.1 8.4 9.9v-7H7.9V12h2.5V9.8c0-2.5 1.5-3.9 3.8-3.9 1.1 0 2.2.2 2.2.2v2.5h-1.3c-1.2 0-1.6.8-1.6 1.6V12h2.8l-.4 2.9h-2.3v7C18.3 21.1 22 17 22 12c0-5.5-4.5-10-10-10z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-instagram  wp-block-social-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/boudin_mcneese\/\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12,4.622c2.403,0,2.688,0.009,3.637,0.052c0.877,0.04,1.354,0.187,1.671,0.31c0.42,0.163,0.72,0.358,1.035,0.673 c0.315,0.315,0.51,0.615,0.673,1.035c0.123,0.317,0.27,0.794,0.31,1.671c0.043,0.949,0.052,1.234,0.052,3.637 s-0.009,2.688-0.052,3.637c-0.04,0.877-0.187,1.354-0.31,1.671c-0.163,0.42-0.358,0.72-0.673,1.035 c-0.315,0.315-0.615,0.51-1.035,0.673c-0.317,0.123-0.794,0.27-1.671,0.31c-0.949,0.043-1.233,0.052-3.637,0.052 s-2.688-0.009-3.637-0.052c-0.877-0.04-1.354-0.187-1.671-0.31c-0.42-0.163-0.72-0.358-1.035-0.673 c-0.315-0.315-0.51-0.615-0.673-1.035c-0.123-0.317-0.27-0.794-0.31-1.671C4.631,14.688,4.622,14.403,4.622,12 s0.009-2.688,0.052-3.637c0.04-0.877,0.187-1.354,0.31-1.671c0.163-0.42,0.358-0.72,0.673-1.035 c0.315-0.315,0.615-0.51,1.035-0.673c0.317-0.123,0.794-0.27,1.671-0.31C9.312,4.631,9.597,4.622,12,4.622 M12,3 C9.556,3,9.249,3.01,8.289,3.054C7.331,3.098,6.677,3.25,6.105,3.472C5.513,3.702,5.011,4.01,4.511,4.511 c-0.5,0.5-0.808,1.002-1.038,1.594C3.25,6.677,3.098,7.331,3.054,8.289C3.01,9.249,3,9.556,3,12c0,2.444,0.01,2.751,0.054,3.711 c0.044,0.958,0.196,1.612,0.418,2.185c0.23,0.592,0.538,1.094,1.038,1.594c0.5,0.5,1.002,0.808,1.594,1.038 c0.572,0.222,1.227,0.375,2.185,0.418C9.249,20.99,9.556,21,12,21s2.751-0.01,3.711-0.054c0.958-0.044,1.612-0.196,2.185-0.418 c0.592-0.23,1.094-0.538,1.594-1.038c0.5-0.5,0.808-1.002,1.038-1.594c0.222-0.572,0.375-1.227,0.418-2.185 C20.99,14.751,21,14.444,21,12s-0.01-2.751-0.054-3.711c-0.044-0.958-0.196-1.612-0.418-2.185c-0.23-0.592-0.538-1.094-1.038-1.594 c-0.5-0.5-1.002-0.808-1.594-1.038c-0.572-0.222-1.227-0.375-2.185-0.418C14.751,3.01,14.444,3,12,3L12,3z M12,7.378 c-2.552,0-4.622,2.069-4.622,4.622S9.448,16.622,12,16.622s4.622-2.069,4.622-4.622S14.552,7.378,12,7.378z M12,15 c-1.657,0-3-1.343-3-3s1.343-3,3-3s3,1.343,3,3S13.657,15,12,15z M16.804,6.116c-0.596,0-1.08,0.484-1.08,1.08 s0.484,1.08,1.08,1.08c0.596,0,1.08-0.484,1.08-1.08S17.401,6.116,16.804,6.116z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Instagram<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\"><strong>Concussion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Zachary Hughes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">__________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-verse has-medium-font-size\">The weight sits just above, just behind my eyes,\nNot throbbing or jabbing at me sharply\u2014\nIt just pulls\u2014makes my eyes and head want to sink down\u2014\n\nIf someone told you to hit your head against the wall over and over, \nWould you do it?\n\nWhat if they meant a lot to you\n\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002And were really hard to please,\nAnd when you hit your head just right,\n\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002They gave you an affirming look and some words\nThat held a promise\u2014\n\nSomeday soon,\n\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002Maybe next year or in a couple,\nYou would get to hit your head on the wall\n\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002A few less times\nAnd use the new time you gained on more interesting tasks \n\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002That garner more glory and provide more fulfillment?\n\nWould you overlook the mindless blows to your skull as means to an exhilarating end? \n\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002Would you try to flip the task of hitting your head into more positive terms, \nSmiling that at least you get the chance to keep hitting your head in some fashion \n\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002Because not everyone gets to do that at college, and at such a high level? \nWhen your head hitting is affirmed by The Task Giver, doesn't it feel almost worth it? \n\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002Then you walk away from the wall with a spring in your step,\ndelighted at such a good day at practice.\n\nLook around at the other head-bangers\u2014your peers\u2014\n\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002Some swing their necks into the barrier with joyous abandon,\nOthers tentatively tap foreheads on the wall until\n\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002they are expelled from the drill by The Task Giver\nLook upon the joyous rammers with both envy and worry.\n\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002How much easier it must be for them to gain the affirmation and promotion you seek, \nHow much worse off for their minds in the future.\n\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002On the tentative tappers, look with pity and empathy.\nThey will struggle to advance, at least in the favor of The Task Giver,\n\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002Yet you understand their natural, self-preservative tendency to hold back.\n\nAll this considered, it is a vital comfort to you that you are not alone in your task, \n\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002That by swinging your head heartily despite hesitations,\nYou support those around you,\n\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002Help your brothers and yourself in The Task.\nSo you stay, forcing a smile on your face\n\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002\u2002And hoping that those studies don't really show what they show.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">__________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Zachary Hughes<\/strong> is a recent graduate of Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. This fall, he begins a job as an English and History teacher at Jackson Hole Classical Academy in Wyoming. As a football player, Hughes was awarded the High School Heisman in 2015 and played for a year as a receiver and running back on the Furman football team. In his spare time, he enjoys climbing mountains and spending evenings in conversation with his wife, Rachel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>__________<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"438\" height=\"211\" src=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/01\/boudin-logo-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15484\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/01\/boudin-logo-1.jpg 438w, https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2024\/01\/boudin-logo-1-300x145.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 438px) 100vw, 438px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\">&lt;&lt; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/2020\/12\/07\/two-poems-by-peter-hogan\/\">Back<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/2020\/12\/07\/tough-call-by-dave-malone\/\">Next<\/a> &gt;&gt;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\">To learn more about submitting your work to <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/boudin-submissions\/\">Boudin<\/a><\/em> or applying to McNeese State University&#8217;s Creative Writing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/mfa-application-submissions\/\">MFA program<\/a>, please visit Submissions for details.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Concussion Zachary Hughes __________ The weight sits just above, just behind my eyes, Not throbbing or jabbing at me sharply\u2014 It just pulls\u2014makes my eyes and head want to sink down\u2014 If someone told you to hit your head against the wall over and over, Would you do it? What if they meant a lot&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[202],"tags":[75,108,145],"class_list":["post-13780","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-all-football-20-boudin","tag-boudin","tag-football","tag-poetry-2"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13780","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13780"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13780\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21138,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13780\/revisions\/21138"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13780"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13780"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcneese.edu\/thereview\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13780"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}