- Consider something in your life you think goes unnoticed and write about why it's important to you.
I remember attending freshman orientation, wondering how I was going to tackle everything ahead. I knew these upcoming years would be filled with plenty of long, exhausting days. I just had to find that one thing that would help me stay sane through it all. There were many seniors attempting to recruit the innocent freshman for their sports teams. The only sport that I felt confident about joining was the swim team.
Truthfully, I only joined swim because I pitied them. When the captains approached me I could tell that they were desperate for members, and of course I could not very well say no at the time. The swim team as a whole was underrepresented, and as a result, the team was fairly small. It looked as if the only people who joined had either years of experience or absolutely none. As the weeks went by, I began to understand how the girls swim team was viewed. You see, it just was not. Barely anybody knew it even existed. It was almost like some secret cult. The people who had heard of it usually assumed it was an easy sport to get into and that anyone could do it. Being girls sure didn’t make it any easier. It seemed that no one took swim seriously. All of this just made me sick to my stomach, but, I never let it stop me from doing what I loved.
Swimming became a true passion of mine. It was the one thing I was always sure of. Being a part of this team helped me get through my entire high school career. I learned how to adjust to the expectations of high school thanks to my coach. He would always push me to do my best in the pool, the same way I always push myself to do my best in school. Even on my worst days, the team always supported me. Every moment that I stepped into the pool was the moment that all of my problems disappeared, if even just for a little while. The days that I was the most stressed out just happened to be the days that I performed the very best.
It was one week before grades closed. The day before everything was due, we had a swim meet. Of course, I was excited to be there, but all I could think about was my homework. I’m sure my ridiculously high stress levels caused my adrenaline to rise. I swam my favorite event and I could hear my team cheering for me. I pushed myself harder. I felt myself weakening but the shouting made me stronger. When I finished, my coach congratulated me and said I had beaten my personal record. I was ecstatic! It was in that moment that I realized I was thankful for my team for so many reasons.
The team taught me that the only way to surpass your goals was to stay committed. The swim team helped me see things about myself I never thought were possible. Being oxygen deprived while maintaining focus revealed that I am definitely fit for everything else to come. I realized that even at my weakest, I can prove to be my strongest. I am not afraid to take risks. I will keep performing to the best of my ability, in all that I am tasked with. I have emerged as my own leader. I will receive the recognition that I deserve soon enough but, I must focus on what’s in front of me.
I joined the swim team for the same reason most join, no experience necessary. In truth, being on this unseen team helped me realize that I didn’t need anyone’s approval to be successful. I believe that people must look beyond their personal opinions and misconceptions to find their true passion. They may find what truly drives them.
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