PERSEVERANCE AMIDST DOUBTS

School for some is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, as every child encounters grade school and high school only once. Through these experiences, students create blissful and woeful memories together with bittersweet memories. This journey will be a path where students will be molded into the best version of themselves while helping them discover their full potential and aspirations. 

Students with inquisitive minds are given a variety of opportunities because academics is not the only route to success. PCC stresses the importance of extracurricular activities and signifies this by equipping students with unique chances to grow. Teachers encourage students' growth by arranging projects and providing programs that will cater to students' character development and provide channels where students can apply academic skills in a real-world context to attain a well-rounded education.

When I was first introduced to the school’s basketball program, I was initially hesitant due to the time and pressure needed to balance academics with extracurricular activities like basketball. Although I was unsure whether or not I should join the school’s basketball team, my loved ones and friends encouraged me to give it a shot. At that point, I was still contemplating,  until one night, I suddenly dreamt of representing my school in a tournament with the audience expressing their support for our team. This dream gave me images of excitement and accomplishments while playing fast-paced basketball with my friends for the first time. 

A burst of eagerness ran through my body as the enthusiasm swiftly dawned on me while attending the tryouts. Together with my friends, we tried to beat the odds of getting accepted into the varsity team. Despite the gruesome training and rigorous assessments, some of my friends and I weren’t able to get in. It was devastating to say the least. It seemed like my new formed hope vanished. 

But thankfully, my passion for basketball continued as I participated in the sports fest. With God's grace, my sports fest experience made me mature in my game and further honed my skills in basketball. As the new school year came, I was again eager to try out for the varsity program for my age group. I used the motivation and determination that I had been saving for to prove that I was worthy of being given a slot in the team, and it paid off. Finally, the coaches saw my dedication and improvement and I was able to represent the school. I was thrilled and ecstatic to see my efforts definitely pay off. 

The daily training was arduous. It made schoolwork harder to accomplish, and my biggest concern now was how I could manage my time. It seemed that I couldn’t keep up with both of them. Despite having doubts and uncertainties about my capabilities, I chose to continue. As I continued my path, the more I thought about it, the more it came to me that I was, in reality, learning so much more. I realized that I was gaining knowledge and experience that I could not have attained by solely prioritizing academics.

Basketball made me more disciplined, hardworking, determined, and patient. It honed my skills in various aspects, such as time management, leadership, and being a team player. The failure I experienced from playing basketball has taught me how I’ll be able to accept failure and bounce back from it. Participating in basketball made me create unbreakable bonds with my teammates and even with the players from other schools. I was able to also form friendships with them and continue to deepen my friendships with them due to the shared experience and struggles that we all faced. We took the experiences that we all had and turned them into wonderful lessons.

Amidst the pandemic, it made me reflect on how basketball made my high school experience a memorable one, even if it threw me grueling challenges. Without these struggles and experiences, I wouldn't be who I am today. Take the opportunity to try and embark on a journey outside of your comfort zone and challenge yourself with something new while you still have the chance to do so. As Adam Braun once said, "True self-discovery begins where your comfort zone ends."