Hard Work, Patience, and Rewards
Anyone will tell you that hard work pays off, and I agree with them, except through my challenging experiences I have come to believe that patience is needed when awaiting the rewards of hard work. I believe that hard work truly pays, if you wait long enough.
When I reached high school my belief that hard work pays off was firmly implanted into my life. After a successful eighth grade year in which I earned All-State medals in cross country, and track and field including: national recognition for my school record smashing 4:44 mile; I had experienced the rewards of hard work. However, high school was a different story, and has changed my belief about hard work.
You could ask any of my coaches, and teammates and they will tell you that work ethic is no problem for me, but thus far during my high school running career I have come to believe that hard work does reap rewards, but patience can be essential when awaiting these rewards. In high school I have dealt with many problems including: Osgood-Schlatters Disease, Iliac Apathacitis, Platella Femoral Sndrome, Platella Tendonitis, and fractured growth plates, just to name a few. All of these have held me back from reaping many All-State honors that I dreamed of receiving as a freshman, and have also led to the changes in my beliefs about hard work.
With just one season left in high school I have a great deal to accomplish to live up to my expectations, and the expectations of my coaches. I remember when I arrived in high school my coach, Coach Szabo, told me that if I was not a multiple All-State medalist before I graduate than it is the coaches fault. If you would have asked me that same question as a freshman, I probably would have said the same thing; however today I still await the rewards of four years of hard work, but my belief that patience is the key when garnering the rewards of hard work has led me through the obstacles put before me. My belief has given me the mindset that hard work will pay off eventually, for I know that hard work does not go unrewarded.