Believe in you! Track Life

Hey peeps! Let's talk about one of the great joys of my life, Track! I stepped on the track with the intention to compete for the first time last year, when I was a junior. Let me tell you, I was terrified. I didn't event think I was going to make the team, regardless of the fact that our team didn't make cuts haha. Our first day of try-outs it was frigid! I thought all of my limbs would just fall off one by one like in the cartoons. It was also an endurance day meaning, OW! It hurt so much I had to ask the coaches for a reprieve from the workout for that day. The next two days were much easier and I was placed in the "Gold" rank. One below "Platinum"and one above "Silver" now don't go asking how many carets of gold or if it was sterling silver because he didn't specify. (Lol, lame joke I know) The point is we got to our first official day of practice and were told to run 150 meters as fast as we could when the coach said "Go". I finished 5 meters in front of all of the other members of Gold. Needless to say my coach couldn't figure out why I hadn't shown my skills off at try outs, but from then on I was "Platinum" otherwise known as "Varsity".

The first meet I was so terrified that I scratched out of my jumping events( meaning I didn't get any points) and I also though I disqualified my entire relay team, so I went in the bathroom and cried like a baby. Fear not friends there is hope yet! By the end of the season I qualified for districts in four events and I made it to regionals in three (If you don't know, this is a fairly big deal for someone who has never done it before, it's sort of like leading your team to the play offs your first time playing basketball). This year before I switched schools my current coach looked up my stats online and requested me to join the team. If that's not a vast improvement, going from disqualifying to being hand-picked then I don't know what is haha. The point is this, I was embarrassed and discouraged more times than I can count when I first started track. I was terrified to make mistakes and uncomfortable with being the new girl, but I decided track was something that I wanted to try. I had to push through the pain of embarrassment and the sting of defeat and I 'm glad I did.

You can too! I know it's hard, believe me no one ever wants to be the odd man out or the butt of a joke, but have you ever had a moment of  joy you could have never experienced if you had given up? That A on your test, passing grade in your AP class, that insanely difficult song you can play on your instrument? Looking back are you glad you kept at it? Life is no different, to get the sweet joy of success you have to give a little to get a little. If you are wavering or just just not sure how you'll make it in this world, get some support! I had my whole team at my back and my coach in my ear. Phone a friend, email a cousin, meet with the guidance counselor, go spend some time with your favorite teacher. Whatever you do, never give up on YOU, you're worth believing in.~Katy