Overcoming Obstacles

We were given the next work set, although we were already exhausted from the previous hour of swimming. My arms could not longer move the water around me, and my legs felt as if they were on fire. It was a kick set this time, and so we began the laps with our kickboards in hand. On the last lap of eight, I passed by my close friend, whose face was read with pain and whose legs struggled to make it to the wall. Just as we made eye contact, I made a sarcastic expression and blew bubbles in the waves before me. We both started laughing, and although this made our abs cringe with extra effort, the laughter made it easier for us to finish the set. With a simple look, I was able to change the environment of the lap lane from one of pain and anguish to one of amiability and togetherness. Ultimately, this changed the environment of the rest of practice and encouraged each of us to lean on one another as we worked through the pain to the end of practice.

I have experienced this in each of the sports I participate in, including cross country, track, and swim team. Especially at Village Academy, where many sports integrate middle and high schoolers into a single practice, I find myself being looked up to by those younger than me. Coaches encourage the juniors and senior to set the example by making practices, achieving goals, and staying positive. During cross country practice for example, I always show up to practice excited and energized because people feed off of this energy and it makes the practice more enjoyable for everyone. This energy also bonds the team together, because we start to want to go to practice simply because we love the people we are running