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The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success
Learning from others'mistakes
The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success
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My Memorable Drowning Moment
Today, I wanted to surf along with the dolphins on California shore, but this can’t be it for the forecasts of storming weather. However, this dream caused my mind to slip back to summer 1963, when I got drowned in deep water. The urge to swim first came upon me when I was twelve years old, and my family lived right on a luxurious swimming pool. One time, I started out I wasn’t any good at all - I get drowned. Especially, I am proud of that I was not dead down the water pool, but I kept learning about it and striving to achieve my dream; in addition, my disciplines reflect significantly good examples of courage, fortitude, and persistence.
To be honest, I was jealous about my friend Joe’s swimming skills even though
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The final moment came; we arrived early morning at the swimming pool. Joan said, “Today is the day I want you to swim across the pool all by yourself. I’ll stand right over there.” When I hit the water, I saw her standing across the pool. I hurtled my body through space of water. Beginning my zigzag course up the water pool, I stretched out my arms, cupped the water, and cruised. Haft way across, I started to get exhausted, but I persisted and hold firm in my faith. As I turned a slow somersault, I found myself thinking about my practice. It had been exhilarating to propel myself over the limits. “The obstacles can be overcome, fears can be strengths. Will you try?” I heard Joe’s voice, encouraging me.
Even after I moved past the breakers, I kept bouncing up and down on the swell of the waves. Water splashed over the sides of my body. But I was about reaching the finish line.
“It’s a bit of tough going; however, I can take it!” I
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I also learned to never give up on the things I want to do. I remember how Joe rode alongside me in my own battles to break the barriers of my deep-water phobia. “Strive to be the best,” she imprinted in my brain. In the face of my barriers at my drowning moment I held firm in my faith, even as I faced with my own mortality. I won’t achieve the best swimmer title until I learn to accept those miss-hits and unlucky
"The Swimmer." Short Story Criticism. Ed. Janet Witalec. Vol. 57. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Literature Resource Center. Web. 17 Feb. 2014.
Once she turned and looked toward the shore, toward she people she had left there. She had not gone any great distance – that is, what would have been a great distance for an experienced swimmer. But to her unaccustomed vision the stretch of water behind her assumed the aspect of a barrier which her unaided strength would never be able to overcome.
Some goodness comes out of taking the risk of swimming alone. Ones“prohibition and expectations are ignored.'; The challenger of this feat has let go of all egoism as a result of the vulnerability faced.
Swimmer seems to be a painful reflection of his own life that was blighted by serious al...
I smiled to myself and decided that I would go join in. With that, I took a huge deep breath and jumped into the salty water. The water was cool and refreshing; I felt it slide through my hair making it sway in the water. I swam deeper and deeper into the deep blue water. Sunlight streamed through it, lighting up the water around me turning it to gold. I kicked harder and I felt my muscles surge with strength and I pushed further. My lunges began to burn for the need of oxygen, but I refused to go up. I repeatedly told myself just a little bit longer. Until I was unable to proceed anymore without more air in my lungs, I swam to the top of the water taking a huge breaths, filling my lungs with air. I could then taste the salty water as it ran down my face and dripped over my lips. Just then I thought, I will never forget this moment, this place, or the experiences I felt while visiting
Ever since I was a young student, teachers knew that I was not a normal kid. These teachers saw qualities in me that they could not see in many students at that age level. They saw a child who had a profound love to know more and had the ambition of a decorated Olympic swimmer to learn not just the material that was being taught but why it is being taught and how I can I use this information to make people’s lives better. Fast-forward to today, and you can clearly see that not much has changed except my determination to learn and my love to help others has done nothing but expanded.
We have those obstacles that seem too large to overcome or that current that you never seem to swim out of. We have to decide what matters most to us - our passions.” Bethany saw the loss of her arm as a reason to work harder to achieve her goals as a professional surfer. Her passion for the sport she loves carried her to success. Since the accident, she has participated in many world-class surf competitions, her bravery and passion in the face of adversity has inspired millions. Bethany says it was amazing to win the Women's Explorer division of the 2005 NSSA National Championships, which was her first national title. She never thought she would be able to achieve that goal and that much success. Hamilton says she’s thankful she’s been able to live out her dreams. She’s learned so much from traveling the world doing what she loves. Surprisingly, people doubted Bethany’s commitment to the sport, after changes and dedication, she proved those doubters wrong. “Surfing for me is more than my lifestyle; it’s my passion, my life and it’s a part of me.” The bravery in her heart consumed her fear as she continued to pursue her passion, and she would not let measly sharks stand in the way of that. Although the prospect was daunting, when she was asked if she had any fears of surfing now, she simply replied with “I don't feel differently about the water, but I think of sharks more often.” Bethany doesn’t let this incident control her life, because the alternative of living in fear is a life nobody would ever wish to live. She leaves her worries behind her when she enters the water. Hamilton’s dedication and love towards surfing has helped her to become the strong and admirable figure she
As I stood with my peachy pink toes in the gritty sand, I watched as the salty water rushed over my feet. The white waves covered my feet completely and I let them submerge deeper into the wet sand. Looking out toward the horizon, my chest rose as humid air filled my lungs to spread warmth throughout the rest of my body. Finally letting my thoughts come to a slow stop; I relaxed for the first time in a long time. “Don’t wait up for me!” My grandpa yelled from the top of overpass. We had established a tradition of body surfing where he had always held the number one spot as the winner, no matter who actually won the race. I dove head first into the water and headed out toward the sand bank to catch some waves. Tossing my clumpy hair over my shoulder, I continued to dig my toes deeper into the snug sand. Pieces of grains settled between my feet to complete my feeling of paradise.
The third time I wanted so bad to get up, I yelled “Ready.” I felt the water rushing against my face, the pressure on my back foot, I was up. I leaned back and felt the water rushing against my calf the breeze against my face as I cut across the wake making a huge rooster tail. It was freedom. I felt like I could stay like this forever. I was so overjoyed. I cut too the left, then too the right, but Soon I got exhausted and let go. I exclaimed “I did it!”
I struggled to keep my head above water as fierce waves battered against my fragile body. My lungs screamed in anguish as harsh cold water filtered into them, steadily consuming the space that had moments ago been occupied by oxygen. As I felt my strength waning, I wondered if fighting was even worth it. After all, it would be just as easy to let the waves overtake me and be gone forever. Oftentimes, uncertainty can strike people when it is least expected.
I was having a blast, a whole summer being at home with my friends. Until one day I got more that I bargained for.My friend, Caleb, and I were out surfing one day waiting for the tide to start rollin in. Then all of the sudden Caleb as knocked of his board. As I look around all I could see was the icy blue ocean take the appearance of a battle ground. I remember the scream that destroyed my soul. The shaking of the water coming from a man fighting for his life. I remember the words coming out of my mouth “Hey we should go surfing at Buffels bay today, it 's pretty goddamn rad there”. The feeling of guilt that took over my body, along with the fear of what will happen next. I remember the haunting image of a man missing his leg being taken away by the metal angel we call helicopters. A week later Caleb was alive, but was not left untouched like me. He was missing his left leg from the knee down, he was attacked by a great white shark. This was the moment that my life changed. I could never focus on the nightmare inducing screams, but I focused that how incredibly lucky I am to have walked away from this whole event unharmed. I focused on the fact that two months later Caleb was back into the ocean, something I could never
...as I began to walk in the water every imperfection on my body burned as the salt cleansed my skin. Knee high in the Dead Sea and my body even then began to feel weightless- the water carried me. 3 feet deep and no matter how much I tried to touch the bottom, I couldn’t. No one was splashing because if the salt got in your eyes it would be an unbearable burning feeling. For the first time all senior year I felt like I wasn’t in control. I let the water carry me. There wasn’t fear, I didn’t worry about getting carried out to far, nothing lived in the water so no matter how far I went, nothing could pull me under. For the first time all year I wasn’t worried about graduation, finals, or even college. It took me dipping my toes into something big and scary to finally feel relaxed and at peace with myself.
Without delay, I sunk right back in the water. My doubts began coming back to me, making me realize I might of been over my head on this one, but I persisted. I reached surface again and began swimming towards the rightmost shore. It wasn’t the best journey, as I kept bobbing in and out of the water, but I managed to reach the shore. The moment I got stood back on my own feet I stood back on them as a new man; I enjoyed the danger I just experienced, besides drinking a hefty amount of lake
My toes burrowed into the damp sand and I was relieved to realize that the water was warmer than I had expected. As I stood there and breathed in, deeply, the moist salty air, allowing my heart to fill with the vigor of the ocean and releasing the thoughts of the boy from my past with each exhale, a ball hit my feet and a man ran to get it as his friend yelled “you’re welcome!.” Were they trying to get my attention? I thought as I simply walked away avoiding eye contact with the man who collected the ball. I wandered along the water’s border allowing the water to cooly kiss my feet. the water hit my feet. I smiled as I looked at all of the young surfers attempting to catch the two foot waves. I amused myself by pondering what their future would look like and if I was witnessing the start of a surfing legend. I envied their potential, the years they would have to master their art to acquire their dreams, whatever they may be.
I will never forget the first time I went snorkeling, it was something I had been afraid to do up until the moment I touched the water. Beforehand all I could think about was what if I got attacked by a shark? I was too young to die and I felt like I was tempting fate. Then once I made the plunge into the water everything washed away, as if the waves carried the fear with them as they folded over me. I remember that day so clearly, rocking back and forth, up and down, I sat on a small glass bottom boat. The enormous ocean waves making me nauseas as I put my snorkel gear on. I hurried as fast as I could, knowing my nausea would go away as soon as I entered the water. This wasn’t the first time I have gotten sea sick, but it only shows up when the boat is sitting still. As soon as I got my equipment on I jumped into the water, fins first. I felt the sensation of goose bumps shivering up my whole body, tiny bubbles rolling over my body from breaking the surface, they ran from my toes upwards to break free at the ocean’s surface. Once the bubbles cleared, I looked around to see a new blue world I have never experienced before. I heard the sound of the ocean, mumbled by the sound of my deep breathing and the tanks of the more experienced scuba divers below me. It’s a very relaxing and peaceful sound, and if I had not been in such a new and unusual place I could have floated with my eyes closed for hours.