Norm: The Insane Activities That Changed My Life

In all my life, I’ve never had a commitment that required so much of me as track and field, both physically and mentally. Towards the end of my high school career, track and field for me meant having to push through a difficult physical condition known as tarsal coalition, a condition that causes inflammation in my feet. With help from my coaches, I had to learn to endure past physical limitation and strengthen my faith in my abilities. By doing so, I became more confident in myself and I was able to help lead other team members to do the same. Not only did track and field teach me to lead, but it also taught me how to be a part of a team. I learned the value of teamwork through building relay race teams. In all relay races, I was either the

In physical education we were put to do the mile I was always second to last if not last I wasnt made fun of but I didnt really good about myself. As the years went on I was still fat couldn’t do anything until sophomore year of high school is where it all changed. I remember it quite clearly as if it was yesterday I was sitting in my math class when one of classmates had large number pinned to his bag and a uniform on that hadn’t seen before. That's when I got curious and asked what sport was all this for he then explained it was for cross country and that I should join it would be fun. It turns out that the season was about to end so it was to late to join so I had to wait for next year so I did. I went my junior in the summer since that's when they practiced and ran for the first time. After this first run I thought I was going to literally die and didn't want to this any more and to top it off all the guy runners who I thought that were slow beat one by one. This is where I decided I wasn't going to be last or lose a race to anyone. I practiced the whole year and did track top it off. Now the summer of my senior year was very motivational since I got up early ran and did this everyday till school started to be the best of my high school. Well the season would begin and I was breaking my school records and receiving medals from invitationals and

For 2 years I was a member of the Central Toronto Athletic Club. CTAC is a competitive middle distance running club that trains its athletes to compete in track and field and cross country events. It is a year round athletic club that is a platform for talented people of almost all ages to train and to focus on their self-progress as an athlete. At CTAC I was encouraged to push myself to test the limits of my speed, endurance and strength and to discover what my body is truly capable of. Running was a very satisfying sport because my achievements were directly proportional to the amount of work that I put in. At CTAC, I learned discipline, dedication and perseverance. I had to balance my schoolwork with daily practices or workouts, I ran six

In sixth grade I quit the school band in the middle of my third year to join Running Club. The goal of Running Club was to run a 5k after weeks of practice and I accepted the challenge. Throughout the duration of training, I would find the long runs consistently demanding and a test to my motivation to persevere in the club. One of the coaches, Miss. Ames, was my teacher from the previous year and she ran with me during practice. She constantly encouraged me to push myself a little more every run and to keep practicing. I was frustrated with my performance, but Miss. Ames continued to encourage me. Nevertheless, preparing for that 5k was an eye-opening and an overall amazing experience.

Many activities I participate in require serious commitment. Most notably, I am the captain of the Cross Country team and on the varsity Track team here at Brookfield East. To be at peak performance, I must train every day. Although running is difficult, it is how I “seize the day.” To get to where I am now, it took countless hours and substantial dedication. Now I am at the end of the road, all the time I put into acheiving my goal was not in vain. I have become faster than I ever was before and have lead my teamates to do the same as we pushed each other and met with success. The demands of race also require a straightforward mindset focused on competing. The difficulties that were tolerated during the training and race are turned

My phone lit up with a text that read “Hey you should come to practice today!” I knew it was from my well-meaning best friend, but I could not summon the motivation to get out of bed on a late August morning in order to go run. At cross country practice. I dragged my feet for a few days but after many more encouraging morning texts, I finally got out of bed, laced up my shoes, and asked my mom to drive me to the green belt. I was joining cross country. Having never run a full mile in my life, I was absolutely sure that running for no good reason every day would be a complete flop and I would quit after a few days. I was dead wrong. Cross country would not let me quit. It not only would not let me quit, but it taught me to not be a quitter.

One August morning many few years ago, I was walking the halls of Washington elementary excited to be in fourth grade. Because that meant I could do the fun run fundraiser, where you run for thirty minutes around a track. The only main thing that stood in my way was the upper class the fifth grade. Although the record was twenty-six laps around the track, that didn 't scare me to go after that record. It’s basically the one thing I have waited for since I was in first grade. It’s what made school fun for me. I wasn’t really smart at school because I never try. The only thing I love to do was to play sports all through elementary as well middle school. I grew up in a house with strong morals to do my best in school. But that didn 't matter to me. Running for me was to escape the world that meant to me that nothing matter. No one can say anything to you or yell at you. when you 're failing classes or why haven 't you done your homework. That 's how I fell in love with running.

Between sixth and eighth grades, I tried out for the dance team three times and color guard once. I did not make it onto any of these teams. It baffled me that I could not do it even after six years of dancing. Was I not trying hard enough? This was a rough time for me for I could not comprehend what was happening. However, each time I learned to get back up and work harder. I never did make the dance or Color Guard teams, but my failures set me on my path to finding something that I could do and be proud of. On this path, I found Cross Country. This team did not require a try-out; it was all about gradual improvement. I had never run before, but if my failures taught me anything, it was that I should never give up. My teammates and I pushed

Two weeks passed and I began to notice a considerable change in my overall physical ability. I could finally complete fifty push-ups, and sprint without severe signs of physical fatigue. I was excited beyond belief and determined to get back on my feet; I learned from cross country that an unyielding will was needed in order to accomplish any goal, and I will continue to live my life as someone who will never quit. Consequently; about a year has passed, I am now healthy and fully able to use my body to its limits. In addition, I plan on training intensely over the winter season so I will have a chance to break my school’s 400 meter dash record and qualify for the state track

I came here four years ago and lived in 328 West Lane Avenue. That’s a student dormitory and it was converted from a hotel. My roommate was a black girl and that was my first time to live with a foreigner. So I was very serious and nervous. Even though she usually asked me to play with her friends, I refused it several times. I am regretting that now. If I could accept her invitations, my English would be better. I don’t like that dorm. Because it was really far away from campus and there were no bus stations. I had to get up at seven if I will have a class at eight. And that’s why I didn’t keep going to that class in the end of that semester. But I have done my homework and quizzes on the recitations. The professor was a Germany and his English

I am a runner, not good by any means, but a runner none the less. I spent more time than the typical student in the athletic trainer’s office. Doing ice buckets every once in a while and then coming in before catching the bus to do some calf stretches. I was always intrigued by the trainers and how they were able to help. I found out that there were older students able to help and I wanted to do that. I eventually took a class and ended up spending time between seasons to

The cabin was freshly painted white when I first arrived at Trojans Island Resort. I walked down the hard gravelly driveway to the empty beach, when I arrived at the beach I felt the hot soft sand between my toes and it reminded me of my childhood when I played in the sandbox in the summer time. The white geese were near the cold water looking for some nutritious food to keep them alive and well.

Somwhere during my 3rd grade year, a friend of mine convinced me to join a afterschool activity called ¨RunFit¨. She had made it seem extremely fun and exciting, talking about all the different games and activities we would be doing as well as the end of the year party we would have. I was hooked from the start, plus i believed myself to be a really good runner, oh how wrong i was. I eargerly went to my parents that day and begged them to let me join. Once i got their permission

During my freshman year, finishing my final fitness test, the dreadful pacers; I was able to achieve a 63 on the pacers. One of the track coaches approached me and told me I should join track and field. I was hesitant about joining, but after school I walked into his classroom and took the offer. On the first day of practice, I was extremely out of shape; my legs were jello and every time I ran I was always grasping for air. After I completed the intense practice. I proceeded back into the locker room to change out of my foul smelling clothes. With every move aching pain followed. After days of intense practice I attended my first meet.

On April 4, 2017 I started my first Track and Field season at Mosinee Middle School and learned a very valuable lesson, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves we have to start from the beginning. Probably sometime in February I was in 7th grade Social Studies and I heard on the announcements that there were Track and Field sign ups coming up. Mr. Rheinshmidt, our vice principal, stated on the loudspeakers, “ There will be Track Sign ups in the creske gym lobby this Thursday.” I thought to myself… what would I be good at in Track?… shotput?... Discus? I was brought back from deep thought as my Social Studies teacher started talking after the announcements were done. As soon as I heard this, I knew that I would be in Track that spring.