My Quest to Greatness

I believe in perseverance. Ever since I started rowing in the ninth grade, I have been continually taught to push my limits and to keep pressing on. Back then, I really didn’t know what it meant to persevere. I had always tried my hardest, but I had never known what it meant to push my comfort zone or boundaries when training.

Throughout the years, I just kept breaking my limits again and again until I became one of the fastest lightweights in the southeast. Slowly but surely, a thought crept into my head that I can take it to the next level band race internationally for The United States. My father had competed and should have won the 1983 Junior World Rowing Championships. Being to maintain a legacy that my dad started as a family of great rowers would be perfect. It’s a dream that the Gibel name would not stop with my father in the world of rowing. A dream that has been in my thoughts for three years is definitely attainable.

Starting my first year at Georgia Tech, I have been going to the World Rowing Championship trials hoping that I can represent our nation. My first year I got third, but I needed to win in order to go to Worlds. My second year I got fourth, worse than the first year. At this point I was starting to lose hope. It seemed like no matter how hard I tried, I would never be able to make it. Shortly after I found this quote from Walt Disney, “All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me… You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.” Getting third and fourth was my kick in my teeth; I am determined to make it to that next level. My third chance at trials isn’t until this upcoming summer, but I have been training vigorously throughout the year trying to get as fast as I can. Even though I haven’t made the United States National team yet, I am pressing on. I believe in perseverance.