Just have fun.

Hello again.

In correspondence to my introduction, I would like to explain in detail how much badminton really does mean to me. Honestly, this was my personal statement for college at first, but then I realized how much I dedicate to the game rather than my emotions. I cut out some pieces that will be posted in my new personal statement, so I apologize if you feel it is a bit jumpy. This particular moment is my favorite: my final match for the title of 2010-2011 ACCAL Girls Singles First Place Champion. This is how I remember it:  

“No mercy” was my first thought as I entered my finals game, but that immediately changed. I quickly searched for my belongings: Yonex SHB-42EX badminton shoes, black ankle brace and Yonex Muscle Power 22 racket. I laced up my shoes and stretched, losing the tiny pinch of confidence I had during my team’s pep talk.

My name was called. My heart was racing. I dully rised from the stands and walked to the middle court-- court number three. I stepped onto the court and warmed up as much as I could. Naturally, panic rushed through me: the gym was different from my usual facility, the air was humid and I could not make contact with the shuttlecock. But those were just excuses.

I introduced myself to my opponent and apologized for my sweaty palms and shaky voice. I grabbed the shuttlecock and hit it in the air. I watched as it stayed in free fall; it seemed like hours. It plopped down on the floor and the head pointed to my opponent; it was her serve. I stood in ready position with my racket ready to attack. She served the shuttlecock and I hit it skyward in the back towards her backhand. She returned it to the net. One point for me. The serve was mine. I underhand served a high, deep shot, but she was fast enough to reach the shuttlecock. Unexpectedly, she returned my serve and sent the shuttlecock tight over the net. I lunged forward, but missed the shot.  She led with a score of five to three.

The gym grew silent and the only sounds heard were those of rackets and frustration. All my courage was completely washed away. I took a second to glance at my teammates. They were holding up signs with my name plastered in big bold letters.

A new form of confidence spurred within me. Never in my life have I felt so accomplished. I was in the finals, dead tired and breathing raggedly, but I continued to push forward.

I tried not to focus on losing or making mistakes. All I wanted to do was play the game I love and have fun, but at the same time, do the best I could.

“Just have fun” was the advice my coaches continued to give me. I grinned as flashbacks passed-- the games, the cheers, the friends, the sweat; I love it all.

I won a sequence of points and eventually lead with a score of twenty-one to nine. It was time for game two of a best-of-three match. My coach approached me with advice.

“Don’t worry. You can do this,” he assured. “Just have fun.”

This made me more determined than ever.

The second game commenced and my opponent was weakening. I took this to an advantage and sped up my game by continuously smashing the shuttlecock with all my power. It was the final shot and she gave me the perfect opportunity to kill the shuttlecock. The final score was twenty-one to ten. I did it.

Last spring badminton season, my team was deemed 2010-2011 Alameda Contra Costra Athletics League Champions while I received the title of 2010-2011 ACCAL Girls Singles First Place Champion.