My preparation for the state meet by Shannon

My preparation for the state meet by Shannon - October 2013 Scholarship Essay

Before attending Forest Grove High School I attended a small school in Verboort, Oregon called Visitation Catholic School where I participated in track and field. I was lucky enough to be coached by one of Notre Dame's former athletes. I ended up getting 2nd place in what we called the Championship Meet. I thought to myself that it was not going to be a big deal compared to all the great athletes in high school. To my surprise, I was wrong. When I got promoted to high school I was actually one of the better high jumpers, and in tenth grade I was one of the two expected to go to state for that event.

For the entirety of my sophomore season I was expecting to go to state, and that was my determination through every tough workout and every ache and pain I felt throughout the season. With expectations comes a significant amount of pressure, and I certainly wasn't exempt from it. All of the pressure I had placed upon myself to go to state peaked the day of districts, and I failed to uphold my expectation. The devastation of it all kindled a fire inside me that made me more determined than ever to come back the next year and kill it.

I asked my coach if he had any free time in which he could help me with a workout plan, and he said he did. For the following 8 or so months, outside of school and work I was in the gym. I would have a cardio workout and then a lifting session. I knew that the more muscle I had, the easier jumping would become, and the thought of going to state would grow more and more realistic, so I didn't complain.

When the next track season finally came I was ready to go out and make a statement. All year I was mentally preparing myself for all the expectations and trying my best to not put too much pressure on myself. When the day finally came, I was ready. I went out and got second place after a jump off!

Now, finally, the big picture of the state meet was within my grasp. My goal at state was to do one of two things: place on the podium, or gain a PR (Personal Record). The day of the meet finally came and I ended up not only gaining a new PR of 5'1, but also placing 7th place, accomplishing both of my goals for the meet, and the entirety of my goals for the season.

I do have one season left still of my high school career, and I plan on taking it slow, meet by meet, so that I don't place too much pressure on myself again. I learned that in order to obtain success, you need to work hard for what you want. Nothing is handed to you, but with hard work and dedication to what you love, good things will come. I will still train before the season, and I am hoping that I can go to state once again, reclaim my title, or maybe even place higher on the podium.