Hope

The St. Martin's swim team had a swim meet Friday night. I swam the 200 free (8 laps) and 100 free (4 laps), the first of which is considered a distance event, the second, more of a controlled sprint. I swam the 200 free first, and everything was good for the first two laps- my stroke was strong and I was able to push hard off my flip turns and not breathe. However, fast forward to the approximately 5-6 laps in, and I was really starting to hurt. I felt as if I could hardly push off the wall and that my legs just didn't have as much force as they usually do.  I had to breathe going into and off the walls (which is a very bad thing). My body was squirming, and I just didn't feel fast. However, though I was still tired from my previous event, I was able to give a decent effort for my 100 free. Even when I got tired, I pulled hard and did my best to keep up my tempo. I'd like to think of this as a metaphor for the time we're in. I, and I'm guessing some of my classmates, are beginning to stress, whether about college or other things. However, I know, and hope others do to, that it's okay. We will push through the water, no matter how resistant it is. Everyone has moments of doubt throughout their lives, but we can overcome them. Though he faced more challenging circumstances, Jojo in Sing, Unburied, Sing still overcame those adverse events. Though Leonie was emotionally stunted, we still have time to grow. Sing, Unburied, Sing is a novel about tragedy, but it in, there is still hope. While the ending was not a particularly cheerful one, Jojo and Kayla were safe, with Kayla leading the way for hope.