Have you ever felt like you couldn't keep going? Have you ever felt like you couldn’t keep running, like you didn’t want to fall off that bike for the hundredth time, but you just kept going anyway? A situation like this occurred for the first time for me in the summer before second grade.
I woke up early, as a seven year old normally would, ate my syrup-covered breakfast, and headed out the door to a water sprinkled yard and a scorching hot driveway. I hopped into our car excitedly. As we were on our way, my mom gave encouraging words for the upcoming 3.1 miles we were to run. We arrived, and a plethora of runners were awaiting their instructions. Apples, bananas and oranges were lined up next to each other, turning their noses up at the ostracized munchkins and donuts. It was a large circle at the JCC, my flat-topped, one-floored preschool where the runners gathered.
A scratchy voice bellowed in my ears, signaling the start of my first 5k. All of the runners congregated on and behind the starting line with no particular order just behind the rocky white spray paint that marked the start of the race. An air horn blew, and we were off! Blinding orange traffic cones helped us follow the course. People on the sidewalks handed out water and rallied us forward.
My legs trembling, I wanted to stop and walk, but I knew I would be letting myself down. We were only halfway through! The daunting hills didn’t make things much better. The sun made my throat a desert, but I reluctantly swallowed my spit and kept going. My chest began to tighten, and the run seemed harder and harder as I advanced through the course. The minor discomforts made me try harder; I ran faster than what was comfortable. I made a turn around a grassy circle at Myers Middle School. Once more around and one more mile was left! One pace after the other I advanced, forcing my second-grade body up the taunting hill. My foot skidded along the sidewalk, and I thought this was the end for me. Just before imminent doom, I picked up my foot and saved myself. Around dancing trees and towering buildings we turned; the course almost seemed infinite!
I was in the home stretch, and I felt bumpy gravel under my shoes threaten to trip and scrape me once more. I wanted to give in, but I knew that I couldn’t be a quitter; I had to try harder, run faster! Through the finish line I soared, and persevering never felt better, especially when it came in the form of a glazed donut.
The Dunkin Fun Run was a good example of the rewards of perseverance. I ran my hardest and got a donut! In many other aspects of life, working hard and going through with hard things is fulfilling. Whether it’s studying hard and getting a good grade or finding goals to work hard toward, perseverance and endurance is gratifying.
-Ila B.
You used many exponential vocabulary words that I didn’t know and spectacular sensory language, I thought that made your story much more entertaining and engaging. I also thought that the central idea of perseverance is ideal for your narrative mostly because your story is about not giving up on the run you would do. Your lesson fits a specific line: "The minor discomforts made me try harder; I ran faster than what was comfortable.” And from the story that you wrote, I have learned not to give up, and always persevere.
ReplyDeleteIn her personal narrative, Ila teaches the reader that you can’t quit when things get tough, no matter how much you want to. This is a lesson I’ve learned from needing to reach goals time and time again, and Ila did a really good job of explaining this through sensory language, figurative language, and engaging voice. The sentence, “I woke up early, as a seven year old normally would, ate my syrup-covered breakfast, and headed out the door to a water sprinkled yard and a scorching hot driveway,” really brought the experience to life, and it made me feel like I was there. Great job Ila!
ReplyDeleteIla, you use words to describe your surroundings so well, and it really helps me to understand the type of weather you ran in. When you said ¨the sun made my throat a desert, but I reluctantly swallowed my spit and kept going¨. You describe how you persevered through your run, and how you didn´t give up even if you were uncomfortable. After reading, I learned a valuable lesson, and that is to persevere even when it gets hard to not give up.
ReplyDeleteAlthough the course you ran was long and difficult, you made it sound like you pushed through the obstacles so easily. You showed both your perseverance and pain through the writing at the same time. The message really came through to me in the line,”The sun made my throat a desert, but I reluctantly swallowed my spit and kept going.” It really got me thinking about my own experiences when I had to push through my own struggles. I also really like the sophisticated vocabulary you used such as imminent, ostracized, and congregated.
ReplyDeleteEven if its hard you just have to keep going.in your life you will have to do hard things but you have to persevere and keep on going. I Liked how Bryan narrated her writing. “Just swim through it quickly,” she replied calmly. I groaned but kept on swimming.”i liked how she used dialog. A lot of people can relate to her on a closer note.
ReplyDeleteThe lesson I have learned is that there are good rewards to perseverance and working hard for things.. When you said “In many other aspects of life, working hard and going through with hard things is fulfilling.” This makes me think how I can apply this to my own life, and I can apply this to my own life with sports. If I try my hardest with sports I will get rewarded with skill.
ReplyDeleteI think the lesson you learn is that Perseverance can be rewarding. The line that proves this is, “Through the finish line I soared, and persevering never felt better.”
ReplyDeleteFrom: lana2023
ReplyDeleteI really liked this. This can be very inspiring because it shows how passionate you were about the race and how determined you were. This can inspire someone because if they want to give up on something they were or are very passionate about you show how you just need to be confident in yourself and you can do it. An idea you can do is also explain your feeling before the race. For example if you were nervous before the race you would explain why and then explain how you felt during the race and then how you felt after the race and then compare those feelings about the race and see what changed and what. Overall I think it was really good. Good job.