I was a sprinter in Junior High, and I was very fast.... Already faster than the fastest girl on the high school track team. I didn't have to work very hard to earn a spot on the relay team, and made it to the state track meet my freshman year. At the end of the season awards dinner, I was given several awards, one for earning more points depending on the place you finish in a race, you get points. To letter, you needed 12 points, and I could have lettered 10 times that season, more than any one else on the team. You get the picture.

My sophomore season was tougher, and I didn't win as many races. Everyone, including myself, expected me to win my races at the state meet. I didn't. I was angry at myself and wasn't very nice to my parents. For most athletes, it would have been a great season, but I was ungrateful, arrogant, and expected to win without putting in effort. I won't bore you with details about my last 2 years of school, but I will tell you that I ended up being a state champion in all 4 of my events as a senior and earned a track scholarship.

What is important is that I learned humility and perspective from losing. I learned that I had to work for something I wanted. I welcomed younger athletes and made them feel at ease at their first meet. I encouraged. I learned that winning isn't everything. Sure it's nice, but there is a deeper message.

Over the years, I've been a track coach for almost 15 years, 2 recently as a CYO volunteer with my kids. The lesson is always the same: Winning isn't everything, but conduct and sportsmanship are. Making an effort and improving weekly are just as valuable to me as a ribbon or medal, maybe more so. Run a little faster. Jump a little further. Throw a little further. Not everyone is made to be a champion, but everyone has a champion within them, it's all about how you measure it.

Jenny