living the life that I want to

Thursday, July 12, 2007

this is going to be a long post....

Just like that, Nationals 2007 is over.

After 1.5 years of training for the J2s and 6 months of training for the J1s, it had been a emotional rollercoaster ride for the Raffles canoeists these past 3 days. Have I ever told you how privileged I am to be able to row beside such passionate seniors who have kept the dream of winning the team gold and who have put in their very best to achieve it? But yet, WHY did this have to happen to all of them? Everything that could have gone wrong unleashed its wrath during this Nationals.

I asked God why could He let these things happen to us this year. Why could all of this happen to such a committed bunch of people who poured out their lives for this sport that they loved. Well, I kinda got an answer for that. He allowed all these things to happen to make us a STRONGER and more UNITED team. God has plans for us. Was reading something off the net the other day and I think that God was really speaking to me through it:

Rather than allowing the defeats you experience in life to demoralize you, to depress you, to paralyze you, take the opportunity to analyze why you lost so that you can do better the next time. We can often learn more about ourselves in defeat than we can in victory. Not only does defeat keep us humble, but it forces us to do better the next time. You can either let the defeats in life intimidate you from ever reaching your goals, or you can use the defeats in life to motivate you to victory!

This might sound selfish, but God has used this defeat to strengthen us as a team. To learn from the mistakes made this year and to continue the good fight for next year's Nationals.

Today when muddy said in her debrief speech that it was her last day serving as captain, my stomach did a somersault. This was it, it's now my turn to take over the reigns and to inspire the team. I still remember what Guoren (J2 guys senior) said during canoe camp, that Canoeing was a CCA of dreams. It liberated him to dream of what he wanted to achieve and to go for it. Muddy has really set a high standard and many have come to respect her as a good leader, an inspiration to all. Am I up to it? Yes I am, but there's a little part of me that's scared and hesitant. Was talking to Eugene the other day about us taking over from the captains. We've got big shoes to fill. Him, Kaiyang's and I, Muddy's. Canoeing has earned itself a good reputation from past generations, and we've got the responsibility to carry this on. The pride of donning that jersey, of wearing that Raffles crest with pride and humility at the same time.

Yes, I have high hopes for my team. The seniors have taught us well, we have become a family of self-motivated canoeists, full of potential and a thirst to prove ourselves. This is a battle against ourselves, a chance to push our limits and to discover our full potential. Come on team, let's not bow our heads in defeat.

"It is inevitable that some defeat will enter even the most victorious life. The human spirit is never finished when it is defeated... it is finished when it surrenders."

Stand tall, stand proud. Keep the spirit burning strong, be brave. I know God that you'll be here guiding me throughout this journey.

"If anyone serves, he should it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen"
-1 Peter 4:11

Thank you seniors for all that you've done for us.
muddy. joohui. yangyang. javine. hannah. eliza. xinmiao. jolene. amanda. siaurui. shawna. van.
Next year, we'll fight for you.

And thank you toot, soo and michelle for a great Nationals 2007. We, the J1 boat, owned.

ONWARD TO NATIONALS 2008.

4:50 pm