I was told this by my physical education teacher and I believed it. I had always had poor lungs and a weak sort of body, and to top it off I was incredibly lazy. If anything were to make me pant, even in the slightest, I would give up immediately. I constantly sat on the sidelines ridiculing the kids who took P.E. class like it was the Olympics. Maybe, I was just really jealous that they could do what I couldn 't.
I entered high school and decided that I would try sports. I wanted to play soccer seriously, but was slightly deterred by the agonizing practices that Coach Butler put me through. Although, I survived the season I only played for 5 minutes …show more content…
I kept telling myself I would lose and that it was impossible for someone like me. Impossible for someone who would never be able to be an athlete.
The weeks went by agonizingly slow leading up to state, and I was so close to actually quitting. I was frustrated by my inferiority; both physically and mentally. I received my bracket and already thought that I had no chance. And I felt cowardly for wishing that luck would be on my side. I hoped to at least place third, anything over fourth really. I thought if I broke the cycle of fourth now that I could get even second senior year. And then the first day of state dawned on me.
I had previously told Abby and Kia it wasn’t possible for me. There was so much doubt that I couldn’t shake and it annoyed me. It didn’t help my nerves either that Abby believed in me, because she was the last person I expected to say that to me. Even Jake and Michael tried to lend me support. Which made me feel worse, because I was afraid of letting them down. Quitting is so easy to do. And I normally give up when I feel like something is beyond my limits. But as I continued through my matches it was like something ignited within me. Every time my body told me to give up, I pushed through. Even when my lungs felt like they were about to burst and I couldn’t breathe I just had to endure and enduring paid …show more content…
I have never exerted myself to the extent that I did that match. I was tired, my body was completely drained, but something kept echoing within me. Outlast her. Despite my burning lungs and the other part of me saying it would be so much easier to give up, I didn’t. And for once, I did something I could be proud of, something that could bring joy to someone else other than myself to; to my wonderful Coach that never gave up on me, that picked me up when I felt worthless, and became a figure in my life that can never be replaced. I will never forget this segment of my life, nor the people that built me up. I don’t think I could live another life but this one and it’s due to my loved ones and this community that I cannot live