Imaginary Limits by Jessica

Imaginary Limits by Jessica - February 2017 Scholarship Essay

Failure creates this imaginary limit line we can see very clearly. Failing at anything at any age creates a horrible feeling we do not want to feel again. This leads to most people giving up and minimizing their abilities. An example of this can be a child not being able to reach a doorknob, then the child becomes dependent on an adult freeing them from the feeling of being unsuccessful.I have myself came across many obstacles throughout my 17 years of life that have made me the barrier breaker I am today.
My failure started off my freshman year trying out for my high school’s volleyball team. Volleyball is an amazing sport that I dreamed of being apart of. I was really excited to be able to try out for the team and even went to summer practice to get a head start. I got on the team because I was a freshman, but it still felt good to be a part of something. During that summer practice, I learned more than most people knew when the season started.
Being there before other team members allowed me to be part of the started six. It did not last long because my coach basically told me I was not good enough to start in front of the whole team. It was such an embarrassing moment and I wanted to cry instantly. It made me feel useless and a huge disappointment. It hurt to feel like I could not doing anything about it. I wanted another chance to try again, but I never got it on that team.I started to dislike practice because of the feeling that never went away of failing myself.
In a different situation, a different coach on the same team made me run lines because I did not hit the ball correctly and did not start correctly. She punished my whole group by doing lines. It was horrible to see my teammates run because of me. At that point I had given up because even though I tried my hardest when the coaches were not looking, it did not matter to them, all they wanted was the best and did not give me a chance. The failure had created this image of me that I could never succeed in this sport even if I tried.
I barely got to play the rest of the season so after it was over, I joined a league that helped me overcome the limit I set on myself. The league was full of girls my age who had never played before. I knew a bit more than them but I still needed practice. The coach I was assigned to was an extraordinary man who believed in every single one of my teammates. He let us all practice together and learn together. In addition, he worked with us alone in specific skills that were important. He saw my potential and asked if I wanted to join their club team. I was thrilled to even be asked that question and gladly attended their practice to try it out. The team was motivational and all the coaches practiced along with them. I pushed the limit of my failure and became a well-rounded player thanks to the right coach who saw the best in me.
In conclusion, limits are created by ourselves believing they exist.There are no limits in life, it is just the individuals' mindsets who don't allow them to break them away. Believing in yourself is the first step in anything you want to accomplish. Though many people don't have the hope to see the better side, it takes one person to change your whole attitude towards a failure. I could not have overcome my failure with my coach who helped me see the grass was greener on the other side if I took a step forward.