UC Prompt: What is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
I was on my back. I saw the lights dangling from the gym which was never a good position to be in. My feet were scrambling trying to escape but, my upper body was locked in place. I saw the ref swing his arm into the air and right when his palm made contact to the mat I heard his whistle blow. I knew I lost. My immediate reaction to the defeat was a smile. I walk back to my side of the mat and I hug my opponent to congratulate her. I couldn’t be any happier. My parents signed me up for every possible sport you could think of. Ballet, judo, tee-ball, cheerleading, soccer, volleyball, swim, basketball and wrestling. They wanted an athletic kid and that’s exactly what they got. With being an athlete my whole life i've learned the only thing worse than losing is regret. I absolutely hate the feeling of knowing I could have done more. That’s why the kind of athlete I am, is the kind who feels satisfaction from simply doing my best. The wrestling season of my junior year I felt an immense pressure to hold to a high standard to my name. The previous year I qualified for state and placed 2nd in CIFs. I had been the dominant competitor the whole season of my junior year, I knew this would all change when I would have to go against the best of the best during CIFs. Match by match I slowly climbed my way through the bracket closer to the championship spot. At this point I won enough matches to guarantee a spot for me to win fourth place. I stepped on to that mat and I fought the hardest I could, but I fell short and lost. It is never my goal to seek victory. I always find comfort in knowing I did all I could. People see athleticism as my greatest talent. I say my greatest talent is simply always doing my best and walking away satisfied despite the outcome.