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Cayla Gador

Mrs. Pettay

ENG 111, 2B

27, September 2021

Prompt: The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success.

Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what

did you learn from the experience?

Second Time’s the Charm

The papers suddenly seemed to weigh a thousand pounds in my hands. I set them down,

wanting to look more prepared for my speech. However, I realized then I didn’t know what to do

with my hands; gesturing slightly here and there or holding them nervously together in front of

my blazer. I felt something catch in the back of my throat as I spoke, as if I were going to

stumble upon my words and sound unsure. I held it back. For one thing that kept me going-- a

thirst to prove myself.

Mock Trial had always been a passion of mine. I loved the feeling of persuading an

audience and using facts to prove my point. I loved the rush from really nailing your speech and

the feeling of drilling a witness. I went to the regional competition with low expectations. Even

though I went to a law academy, my school hadn’t qualified for the state competition in many

years. My first trial went wrong. I won, however it was boring for the audience: feeling like an

hour long drag for anyone who listened. It felt like a weight crushing my chest when I heard it
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from my coaches. It was then I knew just because I won, doesn’t mean I did my best. Using the

advice we were given, my team and I made a new plan. Switching up my tactics, the next trial

went amazing. We went with a more aggressive approach, making every moment one to

remember for the jury. My team decided to use every trick we had. Hearing the names of the

winners made knots tie in my stomach. By the time second place was called and we didn’t hear

our school, I thought we were done for. However, hearing our school’s name following the title

of “First Place,” made my eyes widen in a way they’d never before. Because my team was able

to take the criticism and change on the spot, we were able to bring home a victory.

Change will always be present in life. Nevertheless, I cannot control when change will

occur, but I can control how I react to it. For mock trial, I furiously have to write my speech as it

occurs in real time or I fluctuate my tone depending on the impact I want specific lines to have.

Being okay with change and not knowing what comes next, is essential for mock trial. These are

traits I wish to encapsulate in all aspects of my life. I had to accept and react to change when I

needed to help my family financially in high school by getting two jobs. My mother moved out

at the time so to help her, I decided to work. With the change this situation brought me, it was

definitely harder than any trial I did. I had to manage nearly every second of my time everyday

to ensure I can complete all my work, while still keeping to the commitments I have outside of

school. However, with my ability to adapt to the situation at hand, I manage my time while still

maintaining my school life as well.

For my competition, I had to think on my feet to write my speech and be convincing to

the audience. For my life, obstacles will come and I must react. Being adaptive to whatever
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comes my way is who I wish to be, as I believe it determines success. So the next time the

change is a part of my school, or my life, perhaps the papers won’t seem so heavy.