My Defining Moment Research Paper

My defining moment happened my junior year at the end of my wrestling season. The moment was not what I had in mind, but it was the best thing that happened to me. Starting in 4th grade all I wanted was to make it to the state tournament for wrestling. My freshmen year came along and I started training all year long for wrestling, it was the only thing on my mind. My junior year came along and I was ready: this was my year. The district tournament was upon us. It was a Saturday, I was up at 4:00 AM to start cutting weight so I would be ready to compete. I was driving towards the gym, all I could hear was the engine roar, there was no one else on the road, it was pitch black, and I was alone with my thoughts. All I could think about was how I deserved this, I worked hard for this, and it was my time. I got to the gym and went into the sauna, I opened the door and the dry heat hit me like a wall, I forced myself to go in and shut the door. I had on my sweat suit that made me feel as if I was in an oven. It was a dry heat that took all my energy from my body, I slumped on the wooden bench they had inside. I closed my eyes and the next thing I knew it was 6:30 AM and it was time for me to leave. I left the sauna and it felt like heaven, my body dripped with sweat as I sat on the bench in the locker room, my phone buzzed. I looked at it and my heart dropped, it was my coach, Tim Muehleisen. He told me to be at school at 7 for a quick practice before we had to weigh in. I got my stuff packed from the gym and I left. I still had the mindset it was my time. I got to my school and walked into the wrestling room, Tim had the heat cranked. The room was dark with no windows, it had two heaters running, and the room was musty and smelled of stale sweat. Tim looked at me and laughed “you are in for a long day buddy” he told me as he motioned me to start running. With every step, I took it got harder and harder for me to raise my foot. I felt like I was going to die, and I wanted too. The only thing that kept me going was the thought of going to state, I wanted it. Weigh-ins were done, it was time to wrestle. I got water and some rest, I felt strong and ready to compete. It was the bubble match, the winner goes to state and the loser is done the year, and it was a guy who I have beat before. I was as confident as I could be. In my mind I made it. Before the match I was goofing off with some teammates, Tim came up to me and told me to get focused. I kind of shrugged him off, I walked around by myself and thought of how great state was going to be, I deserved this it was my time, I put in the work for it, why wouldn’t I win. I was the next match, the nerves set in. My stomach got tight, I was no longer confident. I had my sweatshirt on to keep me warm before the match, …show more content…
It won’t always be a good thing, but that moment made you who you are. Without the certain moment, you would have a different outlook on life. Mine happened to be a loss in my junior year wrestling season. When faced with a monumental moment in your life you have two options. First, to run away act like it didn’t happen. This is an option that usually is appealing especially when a moment is a negative event at the time, but this won’t help solve your problems. The second option is to embrace the moment, use it as fuel to push you. This option is easy to want to do, but hard to live out. Doing this option you have to bring back the feeling of failure, heartache, and pain over and over again. Using your raw emotion to fuel you to get where you want to go. Either option, the choice is up to you: flee or face the