Thursday, 28 April 2016

DAILY INSPIRATION | Rewards Don't Come Without Risks

I rarely take risks. I overthink things too much and prefer to take the safe route. This year I took a big risk, in my opinion, and that was trying out for the Ultimate Frisbee team. I was hesitant trying out because my friend Connie tried out the previous year and didn't make it on the team. But I did actually want to be on the team. Last year, I only joined swim but I wanted to play other sports. I have not played Frisbee since gym class last year, and that's a long time because we played it earlier in the year. So trying out, I knew it wasn't going to be easy, I've seen my friends on the team and they're amazing. Tryouts came along and I couldn't flick, I could only throw backhand. First tryout, Connie forgot to bring her form so she sat out and I felt really awkward being by myself. Nonetheless, I had to try, I was already there. At the end of practice, we ran a few simulation games to see what it'd look like in a real game. I was paired with 2 guys who also were trying out for the first time and weren't on the team last year. We were going against 2 people on the junior team and a newbie as well. I was so proud of my team and I because we scored 2 points (that's 2 more than anyone else!) and I was able to defend the disc twice. After that, I kept practicing and managed to flick, decently. My good friend Cynthia (who's literally the best girl on the team) helped me out and said that I had improved a lot from day 1 of tryouts. That made me happy because it meant that I had an actual shot of making the team. Sure enough, I did make the team. And yesterday we had our first game of the season, which we won! I was in the 3rd line, which was the last, and we put up a fight. When we were on, the disc kept turning over between the teams and I was EXHAUSTED. When I got home, I could barely breathe, and I kept coughing. My legs are still sore, but I have to push through because I actually have a Frisbee tournament tomorrow. Wish me luck.


On the topic of "rewards don't come without risks", I can attest to that. As you may know, I am on the swim team at my school. I joined freshman year and made the best decision of returning this year as a sophomore. I don't know if I mentioned this, but my team, we're CITY CHAMPIONS! We won each division at regionals (Womens Overall, Mens Overall and Combined Overall). Sadly, I didn't qualify for cities. I thought I did, because my friends told me if I placed in the top 5 in my event, there would be a higher chance of me going. I placed 5th in the north region in my 100 meter backstroke event. Unfortunately, there were faster times in the other regions, which knocked me out of the running. Sorry, I trailed off a bit, anyways, back to the topic. I worked so hard during practices and tried my best at all of the meets. I still remember that moment at Regionals when I finished my first event, which was 50 freestyle. As I swam, I looked to my side and didn't see any of the other swimmers. At first, I assumed I was last, but when I finished and looked up to the scoreboard, my lane number was 1st. When I got out of the pool (which was a literal struggle), my coach had commended on my swim. I shaved off 2 seconds for my 50 free, and 5 seconds off of my 100 back seed time!!


What I'm trying to get at here is that at my team dinner this year, the coaches decided to announce the nominees for awards (to be presented at the annual athletic banquet). There were 2 MIP awards (most improved player) and 2 MVP awards (most valuable player), both awards would go to one boy and one girl. 3 junior girls and 3 junior boys were nominated for the MIP awards, and 2 senior girls and 2 senior boys were nominated for the MVP awards. Amongst the junior girls that were nominated, I was surprised to find out that I was one of them. Haha, I wish someone would have recorded my reaction when they opened up the slide and my Facebook profile picture was on there!


If I didn't work hard and improve this year, I wouldn't be nominated for such a prestige award. I'm not trying to brag at all, but I'm proud enough to say that I do feel that I've improved a lot this year. Constantly, throughout the swim season, my coach would ask me to swim in the intermediate lane rather than the beginner lane. Also, he would ask me to step up and swim with the A team, instead of the B or C team, during relays. I'm so thankful to have received these opportunities that I was given, and am honoured to be nominated for female MIP.


Hope you enjoyed this daily dose of inspiration! XOXO Allison!

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DAILY INSPIRATION | Rewards Don't Come Without Risks

I rarely take risks. I overthink things too much and prefer to take the safe route. This year I took a big risk, in my opinion, and that was trying out for the Ultimate Frisbee team. I was hesitant trying out because my friend Connie tried out the previous year and didn't make it on the team. But I did actually want to be on the team. Last year, I only joined swim but I wanted to play other sports. I have not played Frisbee since gym class last year, and that's a long time because we played it earlier in the year. So trying out, I knew it wasn't going to be easy, I've seen my friends on the team and they're amazing. Tryouts came along and I couldn't flick, I could only throw backhand. First tryout, Connie forgot to bring her form so she sat out and I felt really awkward being by myself. Nonetheless, I had to try, I was already there. At the end of practice, we ran a few simulation games to see what it'd look like in a real game. I was paired with 2 guys who also were trying out for the first time and weren't on the team last year. We were going against 2 people on the junior team and a newbie as well. I was so proud of my team and I because we scored 2 points (that's 2 more than anyone else!) and I was able to defend the disc twice. After that, I kept practicing and managed to flick, decently. My good friend Cynthia (who's literally the best girl on the team) helped me out and said that I had improved a lot from day 1 of tryouts. That made me happy because it meant that I had an actual shot of making the team. Sure enough, I did make the team. And yesterday we had our first game of the season, which we won! I was in the 3rd line, which was the last, and we put up a fight. When we were on, the disc kept turning over between the teams and I was EXHAUSTED. When I got home, I could barely breathe, and I kept coughing. My legs are still sore, but I have to push through because I actually have a Frisbee tournament tomorrow. Wish me luck.


On the topic of "rewards don't come without risks", I can attest to that. As you may know, I am on the swim team at my school. I joined freshman year and made the best decision of returning this year as a sophomore. I don't know if I mentioned this, but my team, we're CITY CHAMPIONS! We won each division at regionals (Womens Overall, Mens Overall and Combined Overall). Sadly, I didn't qualify for cities. I thought I did, because my friends told me if I placed in the top 5 in my event, there would be a higher chance of me going. I placed 5th in the north region in my 100 meter backstroke event. Unfortunately, there were faster times in the other regions, which knocked me out of the running. Sorry, I trailed off a bit, anyways, back to the topic. I worked so hard during practices and tried my best at all of the meets. I still remember that moment at Regionals when I finished my first event, which was 50 freestyle. As I swam, I looked to my side and didn't see any of the other swimmers. At first, I assumed I was last, but when I finished and looked up to the scoreboard, my lane number was 1st. When I got out of the pool (which was a literal struggle), my coach had commended on my swim. I shaved off 2 seconds for my 50 free, and 5 seconds off of my 100 back seed time!!


What I'm trying to get at here is that at my team dinner this year, the coaches decided to announce the nominees for awards (to be presented at the annual athletic banquet). There were 2 MIP awards (most improved player) and 2 MVP awards (most valuable player), both awards would go to one boy and one girl. 3 junior girls and 3 junior boys were nominated for the MIP awards, and 2 senior girls and 2 senior boys were nominated for the MVP awards. Amongst the junior girls that were nominated, I was surprised to find out that I was one of them. Haha, I wish someone would have recorded my reaction when they opened up the slide and my Facebook profile picture was on there!


If I didn't work hard and improve this year, I wouldn't be nominated for such a prestige award. I'm not trying to brag at all, but I'm proud enough to say that I do feel that I've improved a lot this year. Constantly, throughout the swim season, my coach would ask me to swim in the intermediate lane rather than the beginner lane. Also, he would ask me to step up and swim with the A team, instead of the B or C team, during relays. I'm so thankful to have received these opportunities that I was given, and am honoured to be nominated for female MIP.


Hope you enjoyed this daily dose of inspiration! XOXO Allison!

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