The People through the Pain by Celesta

The People through the Pain by Celesta - December 2019 Scholarship Essay

I don’t like running.
Every once in a while, I have good runs that make me think that maybe I’m in love with this sport, but I ultimately know that running is something I force myself to do.
Like most who have participated in cross country, I’ve learned persistence and dedication from running; however, these skills are not remotely the most important things that running has taught me and prepared me for.
That title belongs to community.
I started running because my brother was good at it; he was a state champ in the 1600 and had finished fourth in the state cross country meet. I thought I would be like him. I thought running would come easily to me as I perceived it had to him.
I was disappointed when it didn’t, but I grew to like cross country anyway.
However, my sophomore year, AP classes piled onto my long list of extracurricular activities, and I fell apart. I started having mental breakdowns multiple times a week; every second I was at cross country, all I could think about was what I could be doing with my time instead.
I was going to quit.
I planned out exactly what I would say to my coach and decided I would tell him after one of our meets.
On the starting line of that exact meet, one of my teammates looked over at me and said to me: “you’re worth so much. No matter what happens during this race, this team loves you.”
I felt so free and surrounded with pure love.
I had spent my prior cross country years focusing on the wrong thing. I had been obsessed with time and personal bests. Numbers had gotten in the way of the community that would save me.
My cross country team has seen my highs and lows, and they’ve loved me through it all.
When my mom asked why I didn’t quit that day, I told her: “I can’t quit something that makes me feel so loved.”
Since that moment, I have strived to give that same feeling to others, and that is the greatest way running will give me success. It’s true that I’ve learned persistence and grit from this sport, but my ability to create a community where everyone feels accepted will give me much more success in my future endeavors. The most vital aspect of success is acceptance of others and of yourself. Creating a place where emotions are validated nurtures creativity and diversity. By making this an important part of my identity and purpose, I can lift myself and others up to success.
We rise together.