My 7th grade year, I competed for the first time ever in 100m hurdles. As I conquered my way through the first two hurdles, I came upon the third and before you know it,came face-to-face with red synthetic rubber. I felt as if the whole track field swallowed me whole. My mind was no longer focused on the race, I just wanted to give up but I didn’t. I finished my race with a limp and pride. I bring this same perseverance to York College because as many times I wanted to give up in spite of everything, I just can’t. My picture is of a cast iron skillet that has been passed down from my great-grandmother, to my mother. When I think of perseverance I think of my mother’s upbringing into the person she is today. She looked up to my great-grandmother and took some of her traditions as her own. Every Sunday, no matter how she’s feeling, she cooks a big meal for the family from this cast iron skillet.