Challenge

I was born premature, weighing 1.5 pounds and small enough to fit in my mom’s hand. After months in the NICU, I was finally able to go home and live with my parents, but I was left physically weaker than other children my age. Doctors told my parents that exercising would help me get stronger, so as soon as I was old enough, they enrolled me in a myriad of sports programs: swim team, ice skating lessons, tennis clinics, and many more.

At first, any kind of physical exertion beyond walking left me out of breath, so I frequently had to sit on the sidelines and rest. I understood that I was exercising to get stronger, but I still could barely move without huffing and puffing, all the while the other kids ran circles around me. I quickly became frustrated with my body’s limitations. Every time I was forced to sit and watch everyone else having fun without me, I considered asking my parents to let me quit. I was barely making any progress, and at this rate there was no way I could ever catch up to the others, so why should I continue?

Fortunately, my parents were always there whenever I was frustrated, offering warm hugs and encouraging words. They would tell me to keep going for just one more day, and assured me that my endurance was improving each time I went to practice. Their unwavering support gradually increased my motivation to do the best I could regardless of my body’s restrictions. During my breaks, instead of feeling sorry for myself, I began to anticipate being able to rejoin my peers, and to try my best with what energy I had. Over time, my breaks became less and less frequent as I grew stronger.

Today, after more than ten years of persistence, I have become a strong swimmer and a competitive tennis player. My physical transformation taught me that anything can be done with enough perseverance and hard work. Now, whenever I face adversity, I find the strength to push through and overcome it.