As
soon as I was old enough to walk and run, my mom took me to the track to get
used to what would soon become my passion. She had an astonishing track career
herself and hoped that I would develop a love for the sport as well. We would
make almost daily trips to any available track. I just chased her around the
track as she easily jogged 10 feet ahead of me, instead of running willingly,
crying for us to leave.
As I grew older, my mom placed me in
various track clubs in order for me to stay active and hopefully find a passion
for the sport. I dreaded every minute of it, waking up early just to run and
tire myself out. I miserably jogged around the track and cried during each lap
of the warm up, begging my mom to take me out of this pointless, unnecessary pastime.
Two years dragged on and I wondered constantly why I couldn’t use my time to
find something that I actually enjoyed. I didn’t even resemble a track runner
as a kid. My mom eventually heard me and took me out of the track club, and I
joined a couple basketball clubs instead but never gave up the idea of my
pursuing track. So she decided to coach me herself. Initially, I feared for my
life, thinking that she would overtrain me or work me so hard I would pass out.
Her competitive athletic history scared me. I found that I actually liked this
training better than with a club because my mom was able to focus on what I
needed to improve upon. To my surprise, she made sure she wasn’t overworking me
but instead steadily getting me to my next performance level.
I
went to my first track competition in the sixth grade and hated every second of
it until my event. My stomach was filled with butterflies, I was so nervous.
Before I ran, I argued with my mom about having to run the 800m. I just wanted
to get it over with, so as soon as the gun went off, I took off. I was in first
place the first 600m but then worried, “can I hold my position for the rest of
the race?” The girl right behind me was being cheered on by her coach, “come on
Anna! You can pass her up no problem!” I was tired at this point, but did not
want to give up and lose after a great performance so far, so I picked up my
pace and did not stop until I crossed the finish line, using up every bit of
energy I had left within me. I won! This moment boosted my confidence a lot on
the track field and was also so relieving that I finished the race, and in
first place!
Afterwards,
my family took me out to a special dinner and I made a note that I would never
give up on myself especially if it is a challenge. The rewards in the end will
always outweigh the struggle even if it initially seems unbearable. From that
moment, my passion and fire for track grew. I never would have thought I would
enjoy that feeling after a race where I’m so tired I can barely walk. The hype
that comes from putting my all into something to achieve a desired end
outweighs the long hard struggles. I think about this realization everytime
track season comes back around, and I thank my mom for instilling a drive and
determination in me that elicits me to do anything I set my mind to do.
29 comments:
Choosing to include an anecdote was a fantastic choice to allow to reader to form a connection with you and provide the origin of your spark of passion. The detail you dedicated to the story shows how influential the event was for you. Seeing how your mom both intimidated you, but motivated you simultaneously was a wonderful thing to see and provided a caring tone to the piece. Overall great job and keep making us proud!
Great story Jackie! The details you used when describing your emotions towards track in your early childhood helped readers understand why you disliked the sport so much. You showed how your first track competition impacted your life in a positive way and how it ultimately sparked your love for running. I enjoyed seeing the shift in your attitude towards track from you thinking of it as a "pointless, unnecessary pastime" to it becoming your passion. I also liked the slight comedy you incorporated into your story, such as when you feared for your life thinking your mom would overwork you when she became your coach. The lessons you've learned about perseverance and determination were very powerful and I'm glad your love for track is continuously growing!
I love your story Jackie. You did a great job of describing specific events and your feelings toward the situations throughout the piece. It was exciting to read about your change in attitude towards track and how it has pushed you to continue in the sport. It's funny how we can start out hating something but one moment can completely change our mindset. I love how you discussed the lessons you have learned though this experience and how it has shaped you as a person. You wrote a great piece Jackie!
-Katie Strain
Wow awesome relateable story! I think you did a great job conveying how you felt about running because I am sure like myself and other runners that it is sort of a love-hate relationship and that you get used to it and grow to love the sport eventually. I'm glad that your mom was able to let you do what you wanted to do, knowing you would eventually come back to it because I think even though we like to do our own thing our parents ultimately know what is best for us and know us best. Awesome story Jackie.!
The chronological order of events allowed me to easily follow along with your piece. I can relate to being forced to do a sport that you don't love, yet due to an authoritative figure, you have no choice. I think the time between your track meets and you starting basketball was necessary not only to widen your perspective but also give you time to realize what you really want to do in the future. When you're competing, the adrenaline as well as your own support system really encourage you to do your best and win it all. I enjoyed reading about a glimpse in your life that has had such an effect on you. Good job and keep up the good work!
I enjoyed how you used track as an example to show that determination can be rewarding. There are somethings that one may not appreciate it in the beginning, but when the time comes the reward that follows with it is truly irreplaceable. Good job Jackie!
Jacque, I think your story is something that many athletes can relate to. Often, people give up simply because it takes a lot of hard work to achieve their goals (which I know you have). I admire how dedicated you are and how despite the hiccups you faced with running, you still have a deep passion for it that drives you to continue on. As a reader, I think you really displayed your voice well, and demonstrated your competitive side accurately. Great job!
This story was very intriguing from the start, how it began with you dreading the training to soon accepting it was a great tale to tell. I also find it interesting how you use this drive not only for track but throughout your life. Very inspiring and well written
Jackie, I think it is wonderful of how you told your story of how you became such an amazing runner. I admire your persistence, drive, and motivation to become better in every aspect of your life. Keep going! Great piece and it is very inspiring!
This story was easy to connect to since I personally experienced a similar situation with softball. The writing itself showed how concentrated and determined you were even at such a young age and by writing this as almost a flashback, you give the reader a chance to see how you have grown as a runner since then. You also allow the reader to experience this moment with you by using first person. This was overall a really well written and inspiring story so thank you for sharing this moment with us.
I am so happy that you were able to fall in love with track. I know for a lot of people, when a parent tries to force them into a sport, they resist and don't want to put in the effort. I am glad that your mom was able to contribute to your passion. A very touching story.
This narrative gives people a "behind the scene" glimpse of what it means to be an athlete. People fail to realize the time, effort, and in your case the pressure of almost being forced sports has physically, mentally, and emotionally. This poem was well organized and easy to read and understand.
Wow Jackie! I didn't know that this was how you fell in love with running. Thanks for sharing. The use of detail in this piece made it very easy to relate to because it let informed us about how you were feeling. This story really reflects the hard work and determination that I still see in you everyday. Great Job!
The piece overall was very well written, Jackie! As an athlete myself, I felt connected to your writing. I started playing sports at a young age because of my parents as well and the way you described your experience of crying every lap of warmup was so vivid that I just pictured a little you.
Jacque! Your story was amazing! I admire your determination to keep trying to run track even after you felt it was not something you really wanted to do! I loved how you displayed how you slowly ,but surely possessed a drive to pursue running track and how it motivated you to do it because of your mother. Great piece!!
Wow your story was very inspirational for many reasons, but mostly because it connects to me and probably to many more. Despite, me not pursuing the same passion as you I still felt that the connection was between my grades and educational life, because many times I feel like you and want to quit easily and without a goal I did just that. So you gave me inspiration to work hard because the payoff will be huge.
Great story! The way you persevered through the tough times to reach a final passion inspires people like me to continue to push through the difficult parts to achieve something worthwhile. It also displays a key characteristic of parental compassion to encourage us that some of us overlook.
Slay Jackie!! It’s interesting that so many children grow up to hate the things that their parents imposed upon them from a young age, but you don’t. I’m glad that you were able to overcome your original distaste for the sport and eventually find an interest in it and that you apply the lessons you’ve learned to your whole life. Your piece was engaging and well-written. Thank you for sharing.
Jacque! This was such a relatable story. All the details you incorporated into the story gave the readers a sense of what it's like being under so much pressure, and at a young age on top of that. Hearing that despite the feeling of giving up, like you easily could have, you continued to achieve your goals. Your dedication is really admirable and this was overall a great job. See you in Tokyo!
This story immediately caught my attention because knowing you and how talented you are today would have never led me to guess that you initially hated track! The relationship between you and the sport was built up phenomenally and allowed me as a reader to follow your encounters with the sport from your childhood to now with ease. The descriptive details in this story presented strong imagery and had me visualizing you running miserably around the track behind your mother in tears, as well as you crossing the finish line during your first race and feeling so successful and happy. Needless to say, the fact that your mom saw a lot of potential in you from such a young age, and remained very persistent in getting you to love the sport was a blessing because you have come so far and now stand as one of the most successful and talented people at our school. Thank you for sharing this amazing story with us and for continuing to inspire people with your amazing athletic abilities!
Jackie, you're such a gifted person with the incredible ability to do athletics... I envy you! Your story is extremely relatable, especially the beginning where your mother pushed you to practice/train when you were a child. This inspirational piece is eye opening and a good reminder for all of us to continue to be persistent in our journey to follow our passion. I liked how you incorporated old memories of you playfully running on the track for the first time, to dreading daily practices, to being nervous for your first competition, and finally to discovering your passion in track. This kind of reminded me of that Mother's Day advertisement the Olympics had, I was getting emotional for a bit. Your mom is an amazing mom, I'm sure she's proud of you, Jack. You've come a long way, I can't wait to see what you decide to do in the future. Keep on doing what you're most passionate about.
Thanks to your story, I think I've learnt to not give up so easy anymore. Seeing how your passion for running made you an amazing person, I, too, want to find a passion that I want. And so I will work hard and even if I do complain or get worried, I've learnt that with all the hard work we had given to ourselves, we will always have a desirable outcome!
This was an amazing narrative in conveying the evolution of an activity, that seemed to be a burden, to a perpetuate passion. The use of an anecdote to present each stage of your development for track intensely matched the emotion intended. I could easily relate to the inconvenience of an activity being forced upon by a parent, more so to satisfy their own happiness than ours. However, I admire that you and your mother worked through it and found a better alternative to pursue track. After you found joy in what your mom had forced you to do, you made it your own passion and learned to continue for yourself, which ultimately is what is important. Overall, this narrative was exceptionally well-written and detailed in presenting a narrative. - Marianne Siapno
Your story about how you found your passion in a sport that you did not think you would like was so inspiring! I loved how you conveyed the feeling of when you were running and kept giving it your all even when you could barely feel your body anymore. When reading this piece I felt that it was well written and it flowed well with the story. The message you conveyed on how you can do anything if you set your mind to it was very strong and your story proved it.
I am fathomed that you dreaded the sport so much, but in the end developed a passion for it! Most people are the total opposite, in that they are born with a passion for something and then growing out of it. You are the first person I know to grow into a passion and that is so amazing to me. After reading Carter's story, it was interesting to read that yours was the total opposite. Also I love what you said in the end, that the rewards that come after putting all your hard work into something really pays off. I can totally relate to this and I hope that if I continue to push and work as hard as I can, my reward will come in the end.
Well I can definitely relate in the dreading of running lol, but to see how you went from tears to first place is incredible. I could imagine the pressure from your mom as she wanted to see herself in you and for you two have the same passion is precious. Yet it is still astonishing how one experience at the meet changed your entire perspective, definitely a 'don't knock it until you try it' theme. Thanks for sharing your story!
I love this story! The chronological structure of this piece really helped me follow your story easily, ableing the reader to see the emphasis on contrast between your feelings towards running as a child and now. I like your choice in diction and detail to convey that dread you had prior and the "fire" of passion you possess for this sport now.
I truly enjoyed this piece because I can relate to how you felt throughout your like because that is how it was for me when I first began dancing. I love how you could carry us throughout your whole process of your passion that grew more throughout your childhood and now to your adolescents. This is a very good read and I think that you are a brilliant writer!
This story was truly enjoyable. It's amazing how you could dread every second of being in track in the past but now it's your passion. It was inspiring in the part of your story when you were in first place and didn't want to lose so you gave all you energy to win. I can relate because I used to hate hose drags, a training exercise I do at the fire station, until one day one of my favorite firefighters came out to watch. I have it my all that day and from that day one I have the record for the fastest time in hose drags at my station.
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