Kylee Grover

Mrs. Cramer

College Comp

September 4th, 2019

College Applications Essay

Failure is something feared by most. Like the sun rising and setting each day, it’s going to happen – no matter what actions you take

against it. It’s a process that happens to each one of us. For myself, I drive for success. If it’s even an idea that I would be able to do something,

my ambition is like a fire inside. I push myself until I reach that point. The downside of that is, success is not always guaranteed. It’s not a

promise even if Track and Field has always been my go-to sport. I had been to dozens of invitationals over the past four years, and I felt as if it

was my year. My time to shine. Amongst my peers, I’m not the strongest, tallest, or even best. I knew in my heart that 2019 District 9

Championships were going to happen. And, so it did. I was rather distraught that I did not get the event I wanted, but I knew that I was going to

prove I deserved this.

The following week, we found ourselves in Brookeville for Districts. As soon as they called my name, I knew it was my day. Wrist

taped, ambition strong, and desire in my eyes. I threw and of course, by my luck, I was the first one to do so. Being so excited in that moment and

knowing that single throw was my farthest ever, I stepped out the front of the circle. Being in that moment, I couldn’t even think straight. First

Districts, first throw, and the farthest. For those who are unsure of how throwing works, it’s an automatic scratch. I went back in that circle ten

minutes later with my second throw, but I couldn’t shake the feeling. I was discouraged. There was no way to get my head back in the meet. I

threw nowhere near my first, and nowhere near to get into the finals of districts. I was going to spend the rest of the day caught up in my

thoughts. I failed. I worked so hard all season, and suddenly that fire was no longer ignited – rather stomped on. My mom knew it, my friends

did, too. My coach didn’t care enough to begin with, which is discouraging as well. I thought about this experience. I had two options; give up on

sports in general and take my loss or come back better than ever. I tasted defeat, and that is something I had to admit to myself in that moment.

My third throw was better, but I no longer had that fire lit. As I peeled the wrist tape of my hand, it really set in. I spent the previous week – as we

trained for Districts – running my mouth about how this was going to happen. Not only was I a failure, I was embarrassed.

Instead of spending the rest of my day moping, I came to terms with a saying I now live by. ‘Everything happens for a reason.’ Maybe

my reason was because somebody else deserved their moment of glory, or maybe I wasn’t ready. Maybe I’ll succeed in something else – and that

was going to be my victory. Life’s about enjoying the moment; laughing, having fun, and driving to do better. I quickly picked myself back up

from the loss. Instead of crying, I decided to hang out with my friends and laugh it off as a dumb mistake. Though it hurt, I knew I should accept

the things I cannot change. To this day, I think about eating McDonald’s with my track friends after Districts. I think about seeing my friend who

was a senior, one last time. Instead of lighting another fire of glory and ambition, I learned a few things. Everything happens for a reason, and I’ll

come back better than ever.