MY GREATEST CHALLENGE

It is an often repeated sentiment by those who have been through high school that those were the best days of their lives. To be in high school is to be young and carefree and fearless. To be in high school is to walk that thin line between adolescence and adulthood. Well, it goes the same with me. High school, for me, is also another step to self-discovery. This was when I discovered facets of my personality that I know would affect me greatly in the future.

Growing up and stepping on to milestones along the way made me uncover the exquisite endowments that life has to offer to us. I tried everything that can be tried; I did all that can be done. I make sure that I take a hold on each and every opportunity that meets me while taking down the road to success so as not to have regrets in the end.

By giving my best in everything, I have discovered God's special gift for me. When I was in grade school, I was so much into sports. I joined the varsity team when I was in grade three and started participating in the nationals in grade four. I was too young to realize that at an early age I have already achieved so much. I played Badminton almost 7 days a week and it, fortunately, led me to be one of the few best athletes of my age in badminton in my hometown, Davao City. It made me so proud of myself that I never wished to stop playing the game I love the most. Playing Badminton became a part of my daily routine up until high school. I haven't stopped playing the sport but things weren't the same as before. The older I get the more things I get to leave behind, that's life.  I've met new people and i've had many choices to make but playing this sport isn't the only priority now. Living my high school as a student-athlete was fun and tiresome at the same time. There are lots of sacrifices to be made and tears to be shed but there were also laughter shared. It was fun going to other places and getting paid for doing something you love. It gave me so much happiness but there are also doubts.

Years have passed but im still not so sure if this road will be the road to a great future. I even came to the point where I really have to question myself, "Is this what I really want? Should I continue giving up my social life for hard trainings?" It took me lot of time to answer these two questions. Only two questions that seriously gave me terrible head aches. As I was remembering my recent performances, I realized I wasn't really doing well with my chosen sport anymore. I was getting tired. I was giving up. I thought I have no chances to be part of the Philippine Team and be one of the best badminton players in the country so I asked myself, "what's the point of continuing this?" I was doubting. I wasn't so sure at all if this is really it. I want to spend time with my friends as much as I want to spend time training. I was thinking "what if I give up this career? Will I be happy seeing my dream gone just to be with friends I am not sure to be there for me until forever?" But as what they have been saying "Anybody can quit."

Quitting is exactly what your adversaries hope you will do , and there's always a legitimate excuse. While thinking of giving up, I accidentally encountered this quote gotten from the movie Rocky Balboa, "Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done. Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain't you. You're better than that!"

This put me into a realization that nothing worth having comes easy. You have to surpass all the hardships life will give to be able to achieve success. I realized that quitting should never be an option. I've already put a lot of effort to come this far. I have already sacrificed a lot to achieve my goals, shed gallons of tears to claim that victory I was dreaming of and received full support from my friends and family. Therefore, I have decided to continue the life I grew up with. To continue the sport I think I could never ever let go and the thing that molded me to be the person that I am today. I realized that my resources are always far deeper and far greater than I have ever imagined them to be. I got myself this far so why give up? I know down deep in my heart I still believe that I still have what it takes to go the distance.

Badminton may have been my life but it actually made me learn a lot of new things. Sports made me a better person. I am able to discipline myself and it even gave me so much courage and strength to show people with what I am capable of. Through this, I have shown to myself and to others that I can accomplish and surpass anything that life may give me, not only in sports and academics but also in reality. And with the help of the Jesuit teachings, I am able to show compassion and commitment to everything I do.