Reflective Essay: My First Joining The Cross Country Team

When I started middle and high school, making good grades was my new goal. I was introduced to pre-advanced classes and failed miserably my first year. I also joined the track and cross country team at the time. Once

During my time in High School I ran on the cross country team for 3 seasons. The coach, Mark Snead is known for his sense of humor, teaching skills, and leadership abilities. This coach and teacher was committed to bringing out the best in his students. In the class, he didn’t waste time or try to overload you with pointless busy work. Instead he would teach what was necessary and appropriate to understand the subject and excel in the class. At practice, he would never yell at runners if he knew they weren't trying their best, instead he would gather up the team and explain to everyone why we run. He would proclaim something along the lines of, "Each day we come out here and practice, we work to improve ourselves, you don't want to end up regretting

For the past three years I’ve been a part of a team that has shaped me into the person I am today. The John Hay cross country team has given me qualities that genuinely made me a better person such as being confident, disciplined, motivated, and a leader. Not only did running help me express these attributes, it also saved my life.

When I first joined cross country I was not fast nor a runner. I was one of the slowest people on the team, but I wanted to get faster and I was determined to improve. Some days we would do a hills workout and I would get to the top of the longest hill and think, “I could just run back to Armstrong right now and be done”. But then, I thought about how if I did another hill, I would get better and some time during a race when there was a big hill I would look at it like it’s nothing. I could go up the hill easily and pass a couple girls. So I would do another hill. Then the next time we did hills I rememberd how many I did the last time and pushed myself to do one more. Through that cross country showed me that I could be faster and tougher than I thought I was if I put in the effort and want it

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.

The coach made us run extra harder, which many people did not enjoy. I ran thinking, if I run hard enough, I will run the greatest 2-mile, the distance we have to run in the league finals, I have ever ran. We would run intervals, 1 lap, 2 laps, 3 laps, 4 laps, and vice versa. We would also run up and down stairs and run track laps until we felt like puking. The week passed by fast as we practiced, and the league finals was just up ahead now. The weekend before the meet, wasn’t much, but for most of the weekend, I had butterflies in my stomach multiplying every second the meet got closer. My dad told me not to worry, which I thought was silly, because this was a huge meet. I got a lot of rest sleeping, and finally, the day had come. The day of the cross country league

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

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

Growing up, I’d always been expected to do well in school. Which isn’t out of the ordinary, every parent wants their child to be successful and have a beneficial career. So, since good grades were what my parents expected that’s what I got. All throughout elementary, I strived to do my absolute best in every subject. At my sixth grade graduation I was awarded the Presidential Award for Academic Achievement, in my junior high years I did well as well. My eighth-grade year I achieved my goal of obtaining a 4.0 G.p.a. The first year of high school was nerve-racking but I still managed to keep my grades up. However, Sophomore year was definitely a bump in the road for me. In all my ten years of being in school (including head start and kindergarten)

Throughout my academic career, my grades and accomplishments have always been of extreme importance to me. To keep up with my goals, for example, making honor roll every quarter, I have taken steps and faced setbacks that have enabled me to see the big picture rather than focusing on the little issues that could discourage me from reaching those goals. To make the honor roll at my high school means obtaining a 3.5 grade point average or above for the entire quarter. As a freshman, I made it my goal to meet this standard throughout my complete high school career. To do this, I studied hard for every one of my classes, always did my homework, and put in as much effort as I could; I gave it my all. Through tough classes and staying up all night

Last year I started a new sport, cross country. I only did it because my lacrosse coach said that it might help me get better for lacrosse. So I went to the first late summer practice last year to see what this was like, so then we did warm-ups and a lap around the track. Then it was the first time I met coach Chase, My first impression of him was going to be very strict, But soon realized that this was false because of one of the first things he said. He said “I know there are a lot of nerves here right now, but cross country isn’t about winning every race, that comes later” then continued with “Cross country is about showing what you can do to yourself.” This struck me very hard because I was not that fast and was near the back. Through that fall the team did very well, I also made some progress myself. After the season was over I made a decision.

Throughout my high school career I have had many ups and many downs.  High School by far has been the biggest challenge I’ve ever had to overcome.  Freshman year and sophomore year were my easiest years academic wise but my junior and senior years have been very challenging.  But while facing these challenges I have learned many things that may be helpful for those future seniors who are trying to get through high school.

I was a really good in 2nd and 3rd grade and one day I ran the mile. After that, my mom asked me if I wanted to do cross country and I said, “yes, I do!!!” So, today I am at a cross country meet in eighth grade and I am about to run a race. Also, in 7th grade I was always in front of Owen.

I stepped out of my mother’s car into the sweltering summer air. I was nervous and sweat dripped from my forehead. My mom walked me up the concrete steps and onto the track where the coach was waiting. It was the first official day of 7th grade cross country practice. I had no idea at the time, but this was the beginning of a journey that would help me to develop into who I am today.

When I began to attend L. F. Addington middle school, P.E. was more advanced than it had been in the fourth grade and required running on a daily basis. While I was thrilled that we would get the opportunity to run every day, my classmates were not as enthusiastic about running as I was. As the semester continued one of the coaches,Coach Stitson, began to see my enjoyment of running and my potential to become a faster runner. Stitson approached me, after running our required mile for the semester, about running cross country. At the time I was unaware of the sport and unsure of how competitive I would be in it. Stitison assured