My life is a lot like track and field the more I think about it. In the beginning of the race all your nerves are going crazy and your heart is racing, but halfway through the race, all that adrenaline is gone and you have to face the situation with no bliss. It is like being an adult, nothing is given, I have to earn my own success. There will be opponents to race against, but the only one who can influence how you race, or live your life is yourself. Next you have learn how to jump hurdles. I conquered many hurdles in my life: my parents divorce, losing my grandfather, exams, anxiety and personal demons. Most of these I planned strategically how to jump, others I hopped over slowly and some I just had to go with my instincts and leap. I have failed, but all the trips and falls taught me something, scraping my knee was never a bad thing. With my team having my back I never had to worry. Track taught me how to lead, be a good person and to work together as a team. It also taught me humility and to never forget where I came from. I qualified for the Georgia state track championship my junior year. I had not even been running for 3 years and before I started running I participated in no physical activities whatsoever. Being on that big of a stage with every parent, coach and runner in the state was so nerve racking. However, nothing else mattered when that starting pistol went off. Hard work beats talent when talent forgets to work hard. The way I look at it, a race will always end whether you finish or not, so make your race count.