AustinO
Nov 28, 2012
Undergraduate / UC Prompt 1 How Cross Country Changed My Life - becoming team captain [4]
Describe the world you come from - for example, your family, community or school - and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspiration
Upon entering my freshman year I decided to join the cross country team which became a defining moment that shaped my high school career. My parents had always given me every opportunity and pushed me to try any sports I wanted to play, but after years of playing various sports I found I was never really competitive at because I was either not skilled enough or aggressive enough. I had never felt like I was part of a team mostly because I never really connected with my teammates due to attending a small private school. All of this changed once I went out for my first cross country practice.
When I joined cross country I was immediately welcomed by the other runners especially the upper classmen. Never before had I started a sport where new team members were so embraced. These people became my friends and are who pushed me to try harder in school and in running due to all of them being high achieving students and strong runners. My grades improved and were better than ever before making me feel more confident about school. I was pushed to take harder classes because I wanted to keep up with my friends. Never before had I excelled at a sport but in cross country I was able to qualify for the varsity team as a freshman and every year after that. I was pushed to try hard even spending my summers waking up early to run daily. I improved steadily eventually becoming the fastest senior and therefore the team captain.
Until cross country I had never found a sport that I truly enjoyed. I had never felt the desire to go to practices or compete. That was what was really different about cross country; I was excited every day to go to practice or to go to a meet. I loved racing to the point that I signed up for long distance races out of season. I found that running was something that I truly enjoyed and is something that I plan to continue for the rest of my life.
Describe the world you come from - for example, your family, community or school - and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspiration
Upon entering my freshman year I decided to join the cross country team which became a defining moment that shaped my high school career. My parents had always given me every opportunity and pushed me to try any sports I wanted to play, but after years of playing various sports I found I was never really competitive at because I was either not skilled enough or aggressive enough. I had never felt like I was part of a team mostly because I never really connected with my teammates due to attending a small private school. All of this changed once I went out for my first cross country practice.
When I joined cross country I was immediately welcomed by the other runners especially the upper classmen. Never before had I started a sport where new team members were so embraced. These people became my friends and are who pushed me to try harder in school and in running due to all of them being high achieving students and strong runners. My grades improved and were better than ever before making me feel more confident about school. I was pushed to take harder classes because I wanted to keep up with my friends. Never before had I excelled at a sport but in cross country I was able to qualify for the varsity team as a freshman and every year after that. I was pushed to try hard even spending my summers waking up early to run daily. I improved steadily eventually becoming the fastest senior and therefore the team captain.
Until cross country I had never found a sport that I truly enjoyed. I had never felt the desire to go to practices or compete. That was what was really different about cross country; I was excited every day to go to practice or to go to a meet. I loved racing to the point that I signed up for long distance races out of season. I found that running was something that I truly enjoyed and is something that I plan to continue for the rest of my life.