All Nonfiction
- Bullying
- Books
- Academic
- Author Interviews
- Celebrity interviews
- College Articles
- College Essays
- Educator of the Year
- Heroes
- Interviews
- Memoir
- Personal Experience
- Sports
- Travel & Culture
All Opinions
- Bullying
- Current Events / Politics
- Discrimination
- Drugs / Alcohol / Smoking
- Entertainment / Celebrities
- Environment
- Love / Relationships
- Movies / Music / TV
- Pop Culture / Trends
- School / College
- Social Issues / Civics
- Spirituality / Religion
- Sports / Hobbies
All Hot Topics
- Bullying
- Community Service
- Environment
- Health
- Letters to the Editor
- Pride & Prejudice
- What Matters
- Back
Summer Guide
- Program Links
- Program Reviews
- Back
College Guide
- College Links
- College Reviews
- College Essays
- College Articles
- Back
Reverse One and a Half
I take a step. As I do the rough board scratches at my feet. My nerves are unbearable, why do I do this? I breathe out. I need to relax. I can’t do this if I don’t concentrate. Reach the end of the board, jump up and out, stretch back into my tuck, wait, come out. Reach, jump, tuck, come out. Reach, jump, tuck, come out. This becomes a mantra in my head; it is all I think, all I feel.
I take another step. Be careful! Make sure it’s not too big. That could mess everything up: I could miss the board; I could fall off the end; I could get scared and come out at the wrong time. Stop! Push those thoughts away; they won’t help.
Another step; my last one before the jump. At this thought my nerves roar freshly to life. Like butterflies in my stomach, they make me want to stop, to give up. But I reach the end, I jump. In the background I hear voices, cheers:
“Go Bella!”
“You can do it!”
I fold into my tuck. Oh what if I’m too close to the board? Shh. I wait…
“Hup!”
I kick out of my tuck at my coach’s call. My arms reach back behind my ears. I stretch my body, lengthen it. My hands become folded together and flattened, ready to hit the water at any second. Slap! As my hands hit the water I slip through the hole they have left behind. My splash is small, it is good.
I have done it. My nerves are gone, my thoughts calm. I swim through the cool water to the edge of the pool to hear my coach’s suggestions. They fill my head as nerves begin to creep up. I take my place behind the ladder and reach up to get on the board. Here we go again.
Similar Articles
JOIN THE DISCUSSION
This article has 0 comments.