The score is tied and the deciding factor is up to me. The pressure, the sweat, the anxiousness all rested upon my shoulders. I rise to the peak of the shot, gather my focus, and commence swinging the ball, assuring everything is in position. Every time it is my turn to bowl, I utilize this strategy. While it may not necessarily succeed, I know I am giving it my all, and my teammates justify no less. I throw the shot, as everyone watches the ball roll down the lane…
Bowling isn’t viewed as a serious sport, yet every ball rolled mattered not only to me but to my coach and teammates. I started young, playing with family and friends on a regular basis. At the age of 7, I followed my parents into the unknown, being dragged to try something new. My first steps on the bowling lane with a dragon helper and bumper guards were exhilarating. Bowling was fascinating to me due to the sheer competitiveness between us and the desire to be the best. I hit pin after pin, racking up my score. Due to my love for the sport, my parents placed me into bowling lessons. I was eager to start bowling like a big girl; no help was needed. I didn’t grasp how challenging bowling actually was without the guidance provided. I soon realized that I no longer enjoyed the sport since I began playing like an amateur. I got easily frustrated and wanted to give up. However, my parents already paid for the sessions, thus, being forced to proceed with the lessons. I wanted to do everything in my ability to better my skills knowing that I have to endure the classes. As time passed, now into my teenage years, my skills developed greatly as I was able to shoot multiple strikes in a row. Regaining my love for the sport motivated me to join the girl’s varsity bowling team in high school and play competitively
At the start of high school, one of the first goals I wanted to achieve was to join the bowling team. Of course, I would need to pass through tryouts. To my surprise, a reasonable amount of girls showed up. As my turn approached, I became nervous, my hands all sweaty. I told myself that all I needed to do was prove to the coach that I was capable of being a member of the team. I did not undergo all those bowling lessons for nothing. On the day of the announcements, all the girls gathered around waiting for the piece of paper to be taped up. As I searched the paper for my name, I began to lose hope but there it was. My name is at the very end of the list. I couldn’t believe my eyes as all the girls cheered with excitement. We practiced twice a week, and we really started to feel like a family – fun and optimistic. However, I knew I wanted to get more playing time. I asked my parents to allow me to participate in bowling outside of school activities. My mother then enrolled me in a junior league called Art of Bowling. I realized I was out of my league the moment I stepped in. The majority of the members entered with their own gear and appeared to have been playing for years. Despite their intimidating appearance, they did not deter me from playing. I believed this would be an excellent learning opportunity, and I understood that the only way to be successful was to learn from the top players. Despite the fact that I had a slender chance of beating them, I gave it my all and strived to not let my team down. This experience has taught me that you never know what you can accomplish when you set your mind to something.
As I continued to bowl with this league, I felt sure that purchasing my own gear would improve my game performance immensely. I eventually got my own ball, which came in various hues of blue and had holes drilled out specifically for my fingers. Every week, I practiced and saw dramatic improvements in my skills. I would even compete in several tournaments. This had a positive impact on my score, and my average continued to climb. Following my teammates’ advice reminded me that anything is possible. My bowling experience has emphasized the significance of a teammate’s mental, physical, and emotional support. However, COVID-19 took away a year of playing which only propelled me to do even better when the chance came around.
During the start of my senior year, I opted to increase my leadership responsibilities as captain. Because bowling is such a thrilling experience, we tend to get engaged in the passion it. For instance, if we gutter a ball, we become irritated, which can have a significant impact on our gameplay. Whenever we bowl, I’ve made a conscious effort to pay attention to their moods, and if they are dissatisfied, regardless of how many pins fall, I’ll encourage them to try their best or praise their next throw. Similarly, like any other sport, our performance affects how we feel about the other team after the game. As my team continued to beat the other schools, we climbed through the brackets, and just like that, the final game. My ball rolled down the lane effortlessly and…the crowd roared as my shot knocked a strike; I won our final match and named our team undefeated. My growth throughout bowling has taught me that with a positive mindset, your goals can be achievable.
