Sportsaremorethancompetitions.Tome,theymeangrowthunderthecareofothers.Ilearnedthisthehardway.
Iusedtobeveryshyandoftenfeltlonely.AlthoughIdidwellinalltheacademicsubjects,Iwasafraidofphysicaleducation.Myclassmatesoftenlaughedatme.
“Lookatthatgirl,”theysaid.“Herfeetdon’tleavethegroundwhensheruns!”
Theirwordsembarrassedme.Moreover,whenevertheteacherorganizedsomecompetitivegames,nooneintheclasslikedtohavemeastheirpartnerorteammember.Asaresult,Ioftenendeduplookingatothersenjoytheirgames.
Thingswouldgoonlikethatifnotforasportsmeetinmyhighschool.Bymistake,mynamewasputonthelistofthosewhowouldcompeteinthewomen’s1500metersrace.Bythetimepeoplefoundthemistake,itwastoolatetochange.
Mydesk-matewasanaturalathlete.Shesaidtome,“Icouldn’trunthatraceinyourplace,becauseI’vesignedupforthreeitemsalready.”Otherathleticgirlsoftheclasssaidthesame.
Iwasutterlydumbfounded.1500meters!Runningagainstthebestrunnersfromotherclasses!Andinfrontofstudentsoftheentireschool!ItwouldbetheworstnightmareI’deverhave!
“Youstillhavetimetocatchupbecausethereisstillonemonthbeforethesportsmeet,”theyallsaidthistome,includingmyteacher.
Mydesk-matepattedmeontheshoulder,“Cool!Youwillrunforourclass!Andwewilldotrainingtogether.”Yes,thisisnotjustformyself,butformyclasstoo,Isaidtomyself.Butstill,1500meterstomewaslikeMountEveresttoabeginningclimber.Ihadnoideaevenhowtostartmypreparation.
Fortunately,mydesk-mategavemeahand.Everyafternoonafterclass,severalofusrantogether.Whenthefearofbeinglaughedatstruckme,Isawothersrunningrightbesideme.Theygavemestrengths.Whilewewererunning,someotherswouldstandbythetrackscheeringforus.
Onemonthcertainlycouldn’tmakemeagoodrunner.ButwhenIwasstandingbehindthestartline,Inolongerfeltlonelyorafraid.Isawmyclassmatesstandingbythetrackswavingatmeasifabouttorunbesideme.
Withtheshotofthestartinggun,IdashedoutandranasfastasIcould,asifitwerea200-meterrace.SoonIwasoutofbreathandsloweddown.Otherrunnerspassedmeonebyone,andgraduallyIhadnoideahowmanyofthemwerestillbehindme.Mylegsweregettingheavierandheavier,andImightfalldownatanymoment.However,Isuddenlyheardmyclassmateschantingmyname.Mydesk-mateevenranalongthetracksbesidemeandcheeredformeatthesametime,justlikethemonth-longtrainingwedidtogether.
Asexpected,Iwasalmostthelasttocrossthefinishline.Immediately,myclassmatesheldmyarmsandurgedmetowalkonmyfeetandnottositdown.Iwassurrounded,withallkindsofdrinkshandedtome.IfeltakindofwarmthIhadneverfeltbefore.EventhoughIwasalmostthelasttofinishtherace,IwasfullofconfidencethatIwouldimproveinthefuture.
Thatsportsmeetwasanunforgettableexperience.Thememoryofmyclassmatescheeringforme,holdingmyarmsandhandingmedrinksstaysfreshonmymind.Sportsarenolongeraboutwinningorlosing.Theygivemealotofconfidence,bothconfidenceinmyfellowstudentsandconfidenceinmyownpotential.Iamnolongerlonely,nolongerafraid.Sportshavebroughtmeclosetomyclassmatesandhelpedusgrowtogether.