The Last Thing I Expected 

I felt like I couldn't do it anymore.  It was like I didn't even exist.  If people weren't bringing me down, I was invisible to them.  It made no difference if I came here or not.  I wanted to quit.  All anyone ever said to me was negative things anyways.  You could hear some people saying, “look how slow Katie is; she can't even keep up” or, “ew look how fat she looks in her uniform.”  They all kept chiming in.  It was a never ending cycle, and I was the center of their amusement.

Today was our meet, and it was the day I dreaded the most.  I had been practicing.  I thought that if I did good in this meet then maybe some of the harassment would stop and I could impress them.  I stressed about it all day.  The thought of winning or even just placing swirled around my mind and taunted me.  I couldn't escape, and before I knew it, we were loading the busses to go to our meet.  I sat alone in the front of the bus in fear that something would bring me down.  I knew that people would talk about me like they always did, but I needed to stay positive.  I didn't need their negative comments swirling around in my head before I ran.  It would only make me do worse.  During the bus ride, I sat there and thought about myself doing good and actually being treated as a normal, 15 year old girl.  As we got closer to our destination I just hoped no one would bring me down before my race.

I knew getting off the bus would be a hassle because no one would let me off.  They whispered things in my ear as they passed.  “Don't you look nice and plump today.”

“Don't get your hopes up there's no chance in you placing.”

“Maybe you should just stay here it's not like you'll even help anyways.”

That was just the beginning, and they all seemed to have something to say.  I wasn't going to let it hurt me.  I was going to use it to fuel me.  I could do this.  I thought to myself that I could do great if I gave my full effort.  If I put my mind to it and do everything the coach taught me, I knew I could do it.

“Runners for the 200 meter please check in at the front.”  That's what the announcer called over the speaker.  My race was up next, and I was getting more nervous by the minute.  If I didn't do good, I knew more hate would be pounded on my shoulders.  Although,  if I did do well, I didn't expect a “good job” from anyone.  I checked in at the front and walked over to the start mentally preparing myself.

I fixed my block to fit me just right, and I prepared for the race to begin.  As I waited nervously, I told myself over and over, “anything is possible.”  I had been mentally preparing myself for this, and now it was time to show everyone what I was capable of.  I didn't expect first, but I would try my best.  The gun sounded, and I pushed out of my block and started to sprint.  I started out slowly and then picked up speed quickly.  I knew that as soon as I rounded the curve, I needed to sprint as fast as I could.  I didn't look to see where the other runners were.  I was in my own bubble and they didn't impact me.  I rounded the curve and picked up my pace. I pumped my arms and stayed on my toes just like the coach had taught us.  I could see three girls in front of me.  I needed to pass one girl to place.  I thought again to myself, “I can do this, and I'm going to prove everyone wrong.”  She wasn't far from me, so I knew it was possible.                                                                                                                                                 

I could hear my parents in the stands yelling for me, and it was just what I needed to push myself harder.  I passed her and crossed the finish line one step ahead of her.  I had placed.  I had reached my goal, and I couldn't have been happier.  I had shocked the girls on my team.  They couldn't make fun of me for not placing anymore.  I walked past them confidently and over to the water.  I grabbed a drink and started to walk back by the girls.  One of the girls even said, “Great job.”  I was shocked.  This was the last thing I expected to hear.  Was she being sarcastic?  “Great job, I wasn't expecting that outcome!”  I smiled and replied, “thank you.”  It wasn't much, but it made my day.  It was the last thing I expected.