Lesson Learned Through Boxing by Zari

Lesson Learned Through Boxing by Zari - May 2022 Scholarship Essay

“The winner is the blue corner!” The referee didn’t raise my arm, and I instantly felt like I let myself down. “Yay woohooo!” I heard her family and friends cheer. I soon became frozen and everything became silent. How could I let myself down? Discouraged couldn’t even fit how I felt during the moment. I wanted and hoped to be out of the boxing gym as soon as possible. I hurried and packed what I needed, and I dashed to the car as fast as I could. On the way home, I remember staring out the window with tears in my eyes. I waited 3 years for my first match and the outcome was what I least expected.
After playing softball for 8 years, I decided that it was time to expand my skill level. I knew that it had to be something crazy, something no one expected, but most of all something that would better me altogether. Claressa Shields, an American boxer, who has won two consecutive gold Olympic titles and holds all four belts at Junior middleweight (WBC and WBO titles), is someone I look up to. She’s very successful with a record of 10-0 with 2 knockouts. She’s the reason I got into boxing.
Finally, I learned that I’d have a match, I was excited! I trained more than I used to, from 2 days a week to 4, sparring (practice match) a lot more, and working hard to keep my body in shape. I even sacrificed spending time with family and friends to make sure I was ultimately prepared for the match. I was also ecstatic that I’d finally get a chance to practice what I learned against another girl because I mainly sparred against boys. Being the only girl in a predominantly male atmosphere gave me something to prove, and I was ready for it.
But I lost the match. I honestly felt like I lost my goal of becoming an excellent athlete; I wanted to be someone who is above average in strength, agility, and endurance. I wanted to stand out from the others around me and have a winning record. Which made me feel like I could no longer live up to Claressa Shields standards. With 0-1 to my name, every time someone asked, I felt as if I let myself down all over again.
I questioned if the training 4 times a week, sparring occasionally, and even if the sacrificing after-school activities even benefitted me during this time. However, I learned that trying to fit the definition of an “excellent athlete” was something I shouldn’t have focused on. Because I shouldn’t work to fit a certain standard when I’m myself, I bring unique characteristics to the table and that’s what makes me unique. Although I didn’t see it at first, many people saw a version of me that showed a determined, enduring, and overcoming attitude. I didn’t want to hear that at first, because I lost my match, but I soon realized that too. My first match meant a lot to me, but learning a valuable lesson out of it was more important. If it takes obstacles and struggles to bring out the best version of myself, then I’m willing to do it again. Assuring that if I would’ve given up, I wouldn’t have won my second match.