It was the start of 7th grade. I had completed three years of American schooling when my cousin suggested I join the wrestling team. After thinking and without any excuse to not, I decided to give it a try. Wrestling started to become more than a leisure activity, but rather a lifestyle. On some weekends, the team would drive out to tournaments/jamborees. Although not official, they were a big deal to someone whose last medal was from a ‘spelling-bee’ competition in Uzbekistan. Practicing for 2 hours mainly on school days, only in winter, by my second year at the sport, I was competing at a junior varsity level.
I took my first win at the New York City 2014 Individual Championships. Coming off the mat after getting my hands raised, the feeling of accomplishment that I felt at the moment was so incredible that I became addicted to it. I wanted more and more; each time more vigorous than the last. That 15 seconds of momentary attention on the gym floor is what us wrestlers were after. I was …show more content…
The same feelings of accomplishment were no more. At some point, I decided to quit. My coach pulled me aside and told me one thing, that to this day I cherish. He said, “I tell you all that wrestling match is about making the right choices when given the right opportunities… But it’s also about making a move and executing it ‘till the very end. Not half a**ing it. Once you make a decision, execute it with a full heart.” This sparked a realization of what wrestling truly was and what contribution it made to my life. I was surprised how my life was analogous to a wrestling match. The ways I tackled a real-life problem was the same way I tackled my opponent on the mat. No matter what my opponent did, I always had to commit and adapt my offense to his defensive style. I realized that I needed to commit and change my perspective on the sport. Not just see it as means of attention, rather a means of joy/source of
I took my first win at the New York City 2014 Individual Championships. Coming off the mat after getting my hands raised, the feeling of accomplishment that I felt at the moment was so incredible that I became addicted to it. I wanted more and more; each time more vigorous than the last. That 15 seconds of momentary attention on the gym floor is what us wrestlers were after. I was …show more content…
The same feelings of accomplishment were no more. At some point, I decided to quit. My coach pulled me aside and told me one thing, that to this day I cherish. He said, “I tell you all that wrestling match is about making the right choices when given the right opportunities… But it’s also about making a move and executing it ‘till the very end. Not half a**ing it. Once you make a decision, execute it with a full heart.” This sparked a realization of what wrestling truly was and what contribution it made to my life. I was surprised how my life was analogous to a wrestling match. The ways I tackled a real-life problem was the same way I tackled my opponent on the mat. No matter what my opponent did, I always had to commit and adapt my offense to his defensive style. I realized that I needed to commit and change my perspective on the sport. Not just see it as means of attention, rather a means of joy/source of