MY LIFE LESSON THROUGH SPORTS

Written by Steffert Spencer ’14

I was always that skinny little boy in the family that tried every sport but never stuck to one. I went from Karate to Judo, then on to Track & Field, Tennis, Acrobatics and finally Swimming. We went to the beach a lot so my parents decided to take me to swimming lessons. At first I fooled around because I thought it was pointless and I hated the water. But then I started to like it more and more and I got my swimming diplomas in no time!

When my parents divorced it was hard for my mom to pay the monthly fee and take me to the aquatic complex during the week. So I didn’t swim for a long time. A few years later I read about lifeguard classes in the newspaper and I signed up immediately. I took the classes and passed all 3 levels in a year. In Curaçao, there is no work as a lifeguard so after that I was bored at home again.

My cousins moved to the USA to play baseball and softball and I wanted to go too. My family would only allow me to move if I was competing in a sport as well as a good student. So I started to practice in a competitive swimming club. By the end of my sophomore year my Aunt told me that I could go to the USA.  I practiced swimming only 3 times a week and I thought it was a really easy sport!

In August 2012, I arrived in the United States and I joined my school swim team as a Junior. We practiced 4 times a week and practice was easy! My coach saw me improve every day and suggested that I join a club swim team. I talked to my mom and after the high school season ended I joined the YMCA Sea Dragons.

There it became a lot tougher. We practiced 8 times a week and I had “no life”. We had morning practices as well as after school practices. After school, I had to go home, eat really quick and run to practice. After practice I had to go home, eat, study and sleep, so that I could go to practice and school the next morning. After spending the holidays in Curaçao I came back to the U.S. with a list of goals for the year. Writing down my goals to make the Senior Champs and pass my first year in the U.S. with good grades  helped remind me that if I want something I had to work hard for it, just as I did when I wanted to come to the U.S.

To reach my goals I had to make sacrifices. When my friends were watching TV or playing video games after school I was at practice or doing my homework. When my friends were out on the weekends, I was preparing for the week ahead so that I had time to attend practice and still excel in school. Dedication, hard work and discipline started to play a big role in my life. I practiced really hard and made Senior Champs! And I also made sure that I passed 11thgrade extremely well! I did this for myself and also for my family, because I wanted them to be proud of my accomplishments. I learned that there are no limits; if you work hard you can reach your goals. I think swimming helped me find myself and motivated me to achieve whatever I wanted!

Swimming is a great sport and I’m glad I chose to do it. I put in 100% effort to swim the best I can every single day.