Sheer Determination to Win (version 1) | Elijah Wee | Singapore

Here is an essay "Sheer Determination to Win" I did up some time ago. It's perhaps befitting to publish this as the days to the release of the PSLE results near and a new chapter in my life will soon open up. Hope you enjoy this writing of mine as much as I enjoyed writing it up!

            My perseverance and sheer determination had reaped the fruits of my labour.

            “Four foundation subjects? Look at this! How does the game of rugby even help? To earn a living?” Father’s thunderous barrage of scolding rang through the house. I stared forlornly at my report book, my face as red as a beetroot. I hung my head low, overwhelmed with a sense of shame. Actually, I was the black sheep of my family. Unlike my siblings who passed with flying colours in their examinations, I scored low grades. The only thing I was good at was rugby. Unfortunately, Father failed to see that strength in me. Nevertheless, it made me even more determined to clinch the gold medal of an impending match and to be selected as the team captain. At all costs was I determined to prove my family wrong.

            Finally, the day had arrived.

            Strutting confidently into the stadium like a peacock, I could hear the incessant and excited buzz of activity that filled the stadium. Seeing the cheering spectators, a momentary fear enveloped me like a whirlpool. The burly opponents before me also left me dumbfounded. What a large crowd? Settling down in our respective positions, we waited patiently for the match to begin.

            The shrill and ear-piercing sound of the whistle from the referee lingered in our ears.

            Catapulting forward, I caught my opponents by surprise. Snatching the rugby ball out of their grasp, I sprinted like a gold medal Olympian towards their goalpost to score a goal. Outbursts of cheers by the spectators resounded as they saw me trying to score a goal. The stinging chill of sunlight hit my cheeks, turning them into a rosy pink. Nothing had mattered anymore. I was determined to score the goal. Unwittingly, an opponent tackled me. He barreled into me like a rhinoceros, catching me off-guard. An agonizing cracking sound filled the stadium and a momentary hush enveloped the stadium like a cloak of darkness. To me, what I felt was agony and disappointment. Agony because I had landed in a precarious position which signalled either a fracture or a broken limb. Disappointment because all my efforts had come to nothing, Absolutely nothing. I was wheeled off the field.

            Moments later and I was watching my fellow teammates play. However, my spirits were at an all time low. Cupping my face with my sweaty palms to hide the woebegone expression plastered on my face, a pang of pain gripped my shattered heart. At that juncture, I felt a light tap on my right shoulder. I turned behind and my chestnut brown eyes met my coach’s. I was pleasantly surprised when my coach had decided to make me the school’s rugby captain. To him, I had demonstrated determination and courage. His announcement inevitably brought tears to my eyes. A big broad smile was flashed across my face. I mumbled ‘Congratulations’ under my breath for I knew that my great will to succeed had just become a reality. Turning back to watch the match, I shed tears of joy.

            My determination had reaped the fruits of my labour.

Till my next essay,
Elijah Wee

Photo credit: Sun Valley Group of Schools / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND