Winners of 21st theme:Loser to Winner

1st: Russell Seong

Rugby Dream

As a child, I had always wanted to be a professional rugby player in my school and hopefully, in the nationals.

But there was only one problem-I had poor ball sense. I could not catch the ball and even kick the ball. My fellow teammates would not pass the ball to me as they knew that if I do, I would get smashed by the other team and that I would cause the team to lose. My parents always tell me that by watching more rugby, eventually I would improve. But it seems like it is not the case. Day by day, I kept on pushing, struggling and doing everything that could possibly hone my skills, but to no avail.

That night, I asked myself, “If I was a person who could play rugby properly, would that make me popular and well liked by everyone?’’

My thoughts wavered as I fell deep into sleep……

‘’Ok boys, three months later you guys are going to represent your school-I mean-our school. I suggest you boys start learning to trust each other because teamwork is one of our strongest weapons we will be using against the other schools. Train harder and put in your efforts. It won’t be an easy fight this year, everyone is fighting for the title of the champion. We won it last year, and I want all of you to win it again. Let’s show them what we are made of!’’ Our coach tells us. The team then ends the training session by shouting out loud our cheer.

Day by day, as I put in all my sweat and blood into my training, I realised that I was actually becoming better. ‘’It seems that your hard work has finally paid off,’’ I think.

Just then, something hit me good in face. “Haha! I’ve got you! IN THE FACE!” as Sean, one of the bullies in the team shouted at me. He apparently  threw a medicine ball in my face. The impact of the ball crushing my face was devastating- some teeth knocked out at best, a broken jaw at worst. I cried out loud as I lay on the grass covering my nose. Trickles of blood streamed down my face. ‘’Damn, my face!” I shouted so loudly  that it could wake the dead. “You are the worst player in our team! I hope this would teach you a lesson that you aren’t as good as us! Oh, and don’t tell anyone, or you will have my fist in your face!” Sean exclaimed as he left the school along with his friends. Don’t ask me how these bunch of troublemakers could enter this sport. Many people think that rugby is a hooligan sport. Although it involves contact, it is a game that requires much discipline and commitment. Teamwork is upmost important in the game. No one person can win the game alone. It takes a team to challenge a team and the team with the stronger heart and mind will be the champion.

‘’What happened to your face?’’ my mother asked with a worried expression on her face. “Nothing, just injured my nose. I tripped over a cone during training and I landed erm…. face first on the ground.” It seems that lying through my teeth isn’t as easy as it sounds.

These days were my worst times of my life. My sense of smell got worse and eventually, I went to the doctor. The checkup revealed that my nose was broken and it would take quite awhile for it to heal. “Great. Just as I was improving, this had to come and bother me. How am I going to play for my school?” the thought of me not being to play flashed through my mind.

On the day before the competition, I lay quietly in bed thinking about the game tomorrow. I was so deep in thought that I did not even realise my dad entered the room. He asked me what was the problem and so I told him that I was worried that I would not have a chance to play for my school. He told me that miracles could happen and that I would be fine. These were the same words that he said to me a long time ago. Having absorbed the words into my mind, I drifted into sleep, thinking about what my father said.

It was true. I woke up touching my nose and although it was red, my nose did not swell that much. I jumped up immediately, hope surging through my body as I made my way to school…..

The match was tiring and hard-one of our greatest hurdles yet. But as my teammates saw hope in me, they worked together with one another. We were almost overpowered by our enemies, but we believed in each other and we won the match. I guess that my dream was finally coming true, and its all thanks to the ones who were always by my side, encouraging me.

 

2nd: Bryan Kong

Friendship

What differentiates a loser from a winner is the attitude. A loser gives up upon meeting a tough challenge and the loser is unwilling to try and tackle the challenger. A winner is the opposite. The winner tries his best to accomplish the challenge, regardless of how hard it is. Also, most importantly, a winner never, ever gives up.

In my lower Secondary school days, I was not living life to its fullest. My grades were bad, I was bad at sports, and the only thing that interests me was computer games. I spend hours in front of the computer just clicking away. Honestly, that was the only thing to keep me away from boredom. Friends? I only had a few and I barely interacted with them face to face, only through the web. Basically, I am the typical loser in the school.

I was not so sure if it was chance or just fate, but that day my computer crashed and I had to send it for repair. Meanwhile, with nothing to do, I took the old basketball from the storage room and went to the nearby neighborhood court to play. I shot some hoops although I was really bad at it. Well, I was alone at that time, nobody was playing at that time. Well, by chance I guess, someone came towards the basketball court and I realized it was my classmate which I never even say hi to him before. He came up to me and introduced himself while I do my own introduction. He explained that he will always come down to play basketball. Well, I explained that I only come down because my computer broke down. Just as I was about to go back to minding my own business, he suggested playing together. Well, all I could say it was a start to a new friendship. From then on, we hang out together most of the time and I found myself getting attracted to a sport rather than the computer games. That surely was a big turnaround for me.

Apparently, not only was my only real friend good at sports, his studies were magnificent.   He taught me countless of things that I did not even realize those were mistakes. My grades improved gradually by then. I started to be more open after I realize that if I were to make the happiest of my life in Secondary school was to make more friends. Soon, I had a larger group of people I interacted with than last time although I still stood in the loser area, as in I am still no known by other people. However, am I a loser? I always ask myself that question. If I had continued the boring life I had, would I still be standing here today? No, I might be a loser in other peopleʼs eyes but I can proudly say that I am a winner as of now as I never did give up. Well, there is still my friend who had helped me tremendously along the way so I guess it was by chance. Well, thoughts of what if I had given up still went through my head but I pushed on and that was what counts.

3rd: Teo JingChi

A Miracle

“If you carry on at this rate, you’ll never be able to win this competition, you hear me?!”, Coach John’s loud voice blared into my ears. I nodded my head and got up from the floor, panting in exhaustion. I gazed up at the crossbar, marking it as my target and ran towards it. At the last moment, I jumped on my right leg and pushed myself over the bar, and landed on the mattress with a loud thud, before the crossbar fell to the ground. My heart sank. I lay on the cold mattress, my chest heaving up and down.

“Riiiiiing Riiiiiing!”, my eyes shot open and I reached for my phone.

 “Hey mom! How are you feeling? Taken your meds?” I asked.

“Hi Sam, yeah I did. How are the practices coming along? Mom won’t be able to make it tomorrow for your competition, but you know I’ll always love you right? I know you can do it. Make me proud, son.”

“Its alright Mom, just stay in the hospital and get better. I’ll win this competition, get the money and we’ll go to UK for your treatment.”

“I know you will Sam. Good luck and I love you so much.”  And the line went dead.

I sighed, packing up my sports bag and left the sports hall.

 I love high jumping. The adrenaline rush you get when you jump and soar into the sky is exhilarating. When I jump, all my problems just float away like the clouds do. Mom always said I look like an angel when I jump.  Mom has lung cancer; the hospital bills were crippling my family. We couldn’t afford the bills every month and Dad had trouble raising enough money every month. With the prize money from the competition, I could bring Mom to UK for her advanced treatment.

I got home, had a quick dinner and went to bed. Dad was still at the hospital, taking care of Mom. “Tomorrow is the big day, I am ready for it,’ I lay in my bed and thought to myself, “I had to be.”

The next day, the competition hall was packed with people. Some of the spectators were holding up banners and cheering for their friends and family members taking part. I went silently to a corner to warm up. Just then, Coach John came forward. “You’ve got tough competition today, kid. But I know you can do it!” he smiled and patted my back before heading back to his seat in the audience. The announced introduced the judges and the competition started. 

 “Next up, we have Sam Wellington from Florida!” the audience clapped and cheered, I could see my coach and his wife beaming from ear to ear and shouting words of encouragement. I positioned myself and marked my target. With three light steps, I approached the crossbar and with all my might, launched myself over the bar, landing on the mattress with a loud thud. Just then, the audience gasped and the pole landed on the mattress. I felt disappointed in myself but got up nonetheless.

At this moment, the door swung open and in came a lady on a wheelchair. It was Mom! Dad wheeled her in and she smiled weakly and waved at me, Dad winked at me and gave me a thumb up. I smiled broadly and got ready for the next try. The crossbar was lifted higher and so did my spirits.

The second and third jump was done smoothly; Coach John and my parents were cheering and clapping enthusiastically. I was grinning from ear to ear as I sat down on my bench, waiting for the results.

“And now, the results are in!”, the announcer roared and the audience went silent.

“in first place…we have William Kelly from Ohio!” a tall boy strutted confidently to the stage to claim his prize.

“in second place…Tom Smith from Canada!”

I bowed my head down and prayed silently. I had to win this.

“In third place…we have…….”

Everybody was quiet and excitedly waiting for the third place to be announced.

“Harry Jackson from LA! This was closely followed behind by Sam Wellington in fourth place! Thank you to all participants and congratulations to the winners!” the announcer grinned and clapped.

I felt like the world had come crashing down on me. After so many months of sweat and blood, my hard work had gone to waste. Coach John and my parents were comforting me as I stared dejectedly at the ground. I sighed and went home, feeling like a loser.

The next few days passed by in a blur, I sulked at home and never left my room. This competition meant everything to me and my parents, but I lost it…

After two weeks, there was a knock on the door. A man in a suit, Coach John and another man in a tracksuit were standing at the door and Coach John was smiling.

“Good afternoon Mr. Wellington, I’m Mr. Daley, organizer of the competition you took part in two weeks ago. You were placed in fourth place with Harry Jackson as third. Unfortunately, after a series of drug tests, Mr. Jackson was found guilty of consuming drugs and has been disqualified. You are now officially third place and here is your prize money.”

I stared shockingly at the envelope I was handed and gasped. I could not believe my ears, I was third! With the prize money, Mom could have her treatment!

“Guess what kid? Coach Ollie of the national team offers you a place!” Coach John slapped my back and grinned. Mom appeared at the door, embracing me in a big hug. This was indeed the best day ever and I never felt so happy in my life!

“You see Sam, you’re not a loser, you’re a winner!” Dad hugged me and ruffled my hair. This is indeed a miracle, I thought to myself, a miracle!