Yesterday, the Freeport High School Speech Team rode on a frigid yellow bus to Byron High School to compete in the Byron Speech Holiday Classic. The second we arrived, the whole team was already buzzing, filling out their critique sheets, scanning their schematics, and rushing from one end of the school to the other, finding their rooms and preparing to perform - that was enough to warm us up.
Round One came and went. Round Two came and went. And among freshly baked potatoes and yummy bagel sandwiches, we all waited anxiously for finals to be posted, the pent up energy keeping us laughing and merry. Finally, the moment came. A man announced that all of us should make our way to the gym, for finals would be posted on a screen once we'd arrived. Members of my team and the teams all around us gathered up their pens, papers, and books (if they were entered in a book event), ready to write down room numbers and go off to their respective rooms, already prepared.
But...I didn't. I didn't even bring my phone with me, to tell my family the news: "Guys, I broke! I broke into varsity finals!" To be honest, I didn't believe that I would. Sure, this was a smaller tournament. Sure, I'd worked consistently throughout the week. But there is considerable talent in our team, and in the teams in our region. I guess I didn't want to get my hopes up, book in hand and head held high, only for it to remain closed and unread for the rest of the day.
To my surprise, the man upstairs had something else in mind. It started with DDA - my partner and I broke. Then came Prose - out of seven finalists, I had been listed as one of them. It was almost surreal. Not only the fact that I was up there, but that my name was spelled correctly.
Having to commit the room numbers to memory, I rushed into both of my finals rounds, and competed, yet again, for the third time that day.
The awards ceremony came shortly after, and all I can say is that Freeport's Christmas trees were sure racking up paw-printed ornaments! I was so proud of everyone and their hard work. We'd improved so much; with each tournament our scores got better and better.
In DDA, my partner and I claimed second. In Prose, I was only given the title as a finalist, which I honestly can say was appropriate. There was so much talent in that round, it was incredible. I had little to no grievances about the places the other finalists received.
I went home that night and reflected for a bit, but not before celebrating over local Italian food and catching up on some Nightwatch with my sister. This is what I concluded:
God rewards those who work diligently. Not those who are perfect in everything they do, but those who work hard, despite the obstacles and set-backs along the way. Throughout that tournament, in times that I felt stress closing in, I had to take a minute and focus on Him, omnipresent in the midst of my worries. I was going to be alright. And He wasn't going to let my practice go to waste. It's not perfection that he rewards - for who among us can say they are without blemish? It's perseverance, discipline, and the will to push forward that will be recognized.
After this break, the team will be heading into the suburbs to compete. Things will only get tougher, but I'm determined to keep on going anyhow. I won't ever be perfect. And there will always be someone better than me. But I'm okay with that. All I can do is work hard. God will take care of the rest.
Merry Christmas everyone! And enjoy your breaks! I know I will!
Round One came and went. Round Two came and went. And among freshly baked potatoes and yummy bagel sandwiches, we all waited anxiously for finals to be posted, the pent up energy keeping us laughing and merry. Finally, the moment came. A man announced that all of us should make our way to the gym, for finals would be posted on a screen once we'd arrived. Members of my team and the teams all around us gathered up their pens, papers, and books (if they were entered in a book event), ready to write down room numbers and go off to their respective rooms, already prepared.
But...I didn't. I didn't even bring my phone with me, to tell my family the news: "Guys, I broke! I broke into varsity finals!" To be honest, I didn't believe that I would. Sure, this was a smaller tournament. Sure, I'd worked consistently throughout the week. But there is considerable talent in our team, and in the teams in our region. I guess I didn't want to get my hopes up, book in hand and head held high, only for it to remain closed and unread for the rest of the day.
To my surprise, the man upstairs had something else in mind. It started with DDA - my partner and I broke. Then came Prose - out of seven finalists, I had been listed as one of them. It was almost surreal. Not only the fact that I was up there, but that my name was spelled correctly.
Having to commit the room numbers to memory, I rushed into both of my finals rounds, and competed, yet again, for the third time that day. The awards ceremony came shortly after, and all I can say is that Freeport's Christmas trees were sure racking up paw-printed ornaments! I was so proud of everyone and their hard work. We'd improved so much; with each tournament our scores got better and better.
In DDA, my partner and I claimed second. In Prose, I was only given the title as a finalist, which I honestly can say was appropriate. There was so much talent in that round, it was incredible. I had little to no grievances about the places the other finalists received.
I went home that night and reflected for a bit, but not before celebrating over local Italian food and catching up on some Nightwatch with my sister. This is what I concluded:
God rewards those who work diligently. Not those who are perfect in everything they do, but those who work hard, despite the obstacles and set-backs along the way. Throughout that tournament, in times that I felt stress closing in, I had to take a minute and focus on Him, omnipresent in the midst of my worries. I was going to be alright. And He wasn't going to let my practice go to waste. It's not perfection that he rewards - for who among us can say they are without blemish? It's perseverance, discipline, and the will to push forward that will be recognized.
After this break, the team will be heading into the suburbs to compete. Things will only get tougher, but I'm determined to keep on going anyhow. I won't ever be perfect. And there will always be someone better than me. But I'm okay with that. All I can do is work hard. God will take care of the rest.
Merry Christmas everyone! And enjoy your breaks! I know I will!
So encouraged by your maturity and discipline. Love you!!!!!- Jasmine
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