This post was a freelance piece originally written for Tambwoy.com.
I’m not sure where I’d be without sports. I’ve been involved in a few different sports throughout my life, and the values I’ve learned have not only been applicable to the sports world, but the real world as well. I’ve learned everything from the meaning of teamwork, to friendly competition, to confidence, to celebrating wins and facing failures. Sports have pushed me to my limits, but have also shown me that putting in hard work can lead to amazing accomplishments.
I truly believe that sports have the power to change lives in a positive way. I know this from firsthand experience — I played soccer for several years in elementary and middle school, before transitioning into cross country and track and field in high school. I learned so many lessons and values during my time playing these sports, and I still carry them with me today as a 24-year-old. In fact, my love for running grew even more as an adult, and I feel fortunate to have discovered running as a teenager.
What started out as just a chosen high school sport has turned into a major driving force in my life. Running has taught me the meaning of grit, patience, dedication, passion, resilience, adaptability — it’s what fuels me and gives me purpose every single day. It has gotten me through so many tough times and has also allowed me to celebrate the highest highs, and for that I am so grateful.
I hope everyone has something they similarly cherish and find happiness in. The sport of running is truly everything to me — it brings out my competitive side, it humbles me, and gives me the opportunity to learn and grow constantly. I’m far from the best runner out there, and that’s okay! I’ve learned to love that. It inspires me to work harder to achieve the growing list of running goals always floating in the back of my mind (I've got my eye on the Los Angeles Marathon and Boston Marathon.)
Sports — particularly running — have impacted my life for the better, and I encourage all young people to explore different sports to see if there’s one they love...you never know what it may lead to!