Running laps on the track my very first day of cross country practice ever, I remember wanting to quit but to continue pushing so badly at the same time. I remember being able to complete a full mile on the first day of practice, feeling like I just accomplished all of my life’s goals. I fell in love with the sport. After the first day, however, practice and meets only got harder as I was always in the back of the pack and getting last place. Of course, my sixth grade self was discouraged, and I came close to quitting. There was a little voice in the back of my head saying, “don’t quit, Lyndsay,” but it was completely amplified when I found out this: I got my cross country coach as my seventh grade science teacher.

To this day, I’m running, and that lousy-first day one mile run has turned into six or seven miles per day. I don’t care so much about being last or in the back of the pack, as long as I know that I am doing the best to my ability.

A lot of me understands that being the best, compared to other people, is completely unrealistic. However, I can always try to be the best version of myself. Still, I find it important to join a sport because it’s important to that individual, not because his or her new teammate thinks he can beat everyone on it, or just because he’s good at it. Without the passion to be there, a sport is nothing more than a mundane feeling.

In the Men’s Journal, Melaina Juntti talked about how a kid should not do a sport just to please his or her parents. At some point, people lose motivation. This, however, is up to the discretion of the child and how soon he or she is ready to stop the sport. Personally, I think it’s important to keep trying to find a reason to do a sport. If you really can’t though, don’t push yourself to do something you will end up dreading and hating, even if you are good at it.

Don’t get me wrong, I am all for being a total boss in all things sports. I just also strongly believe that there is no reason for someone to get hung up on one game lost, and then letting that ruin their night or week. To me, that’s completely silly.

Do a sport because it’s enjoyable, not just to show off or to please others.