The sparks of competition are a fickle thing.
They can burn you, jump from tree to tree, burn away the moss of inactivity, or can power the steam engine of passion.
As someone who has embraced that spark when entering high school, it comes as a bitter sweet to realise I will never be able to do what I have come to love when it inevitably…stops.
The satisfaction of doing my best, even though at times I fail, it drives me to keep going, and to get better. Plowing through road blocks, and through mental struggles. The euphoria of overcoming a challenge gives me a better feeling than actually winning ever could.
It crushes me when the realisation that almost every senior has experienced this dawns on me.
The weight of those that have competed before me feels like a mountain of expectation, and pride.
I believe my stance towards school competition is more unique than others. Being home schooled until I was enrolled into Lakeland High School (LHS), gives me a naturally stronger “patriotism” towards our school, unlike most of our student body.
But it is a shared feeling in some people.
I really do care about doing my best not only for me, but for our school. Even if people don’t initially feel that way, when they want to break a school record, or even set them, they are contributing to the progression of our extracurricular activities.
I know my first taste of competition came from T-Ball, but in recent years, it is Drama.
But how do you “compete” in Drama?
Well, it is actually a state sanctioned event, and first you go to districts in your respective category, and if you do good enough, you are able to go onto State.
This year I was able to make it to state as an “Alternate” which means I scored enough to go to state, but not to be a first option competitor.
Basically, if someone dropped out in our district, and in my category, I would get the green light to perform in their place. Sadly, no one dropped out, and thus left me as basically emotional support for the rest of the team.
At first, I was really conflicted, but as the four day trip came to an end, I realized that I was immensely lucky to even get the privilege of going, and I concluded the trip thankful I got to experience the other performers and their artistic pieces.
That being my last time competing in Drama was humbling to say the least. And I am now left extremely thankful to be able to have done that all throughout my high school career.
My other competition fix came from Track and Field. I started my junior year, and could only wish I started sooner.
Thanks to a friend who convinced me to try it for a few practices, I now found something that I came to greatly enjoy.
Learning something new is no easy task, especially when your background in other sports contradicts every movement.
But when instinct takes over, and you nail something after multiple attempts, it is a better feeling than winning first place.
The regret I’ll feel after graduating will only be from not trying T&F sooner.
The inferno will only grow stronger as the upcoming season arrives.
The sparks have finally lit the flame of determination within me, pushing me further than I initially thought I could go.
This year, achieving varsity in javelin is a dead set goal.
Leaving a lasting legacy is a dream of mine, especially within the school. But it certainly is challenging. But I like challenges. Challenges that let me burn past my limits; and sends embers of greatness and inspiration to ignite the future generation.
