Personal Reflection

This week is the happiest week I’ve had. I finally got my first car. It is the car I’ve been dreamed of for so long. First of all, I’d like to thank my parents for giving me this opportunity. There’s no word can precisely describe my appreciation toward my parents. I didn’t even dare to think about getting this car when I mentioned buying a car to my dad. That was my ultimate dream car, and right now, I felt like the same thing happened in the movie Transformer is happening on me. I didn’t choose the car, but indeed, the car chose me. When my friend took me to Indy to get the car, my heartbeat was pumping so fast. My hands were trembling because of the joyfulness the car has brought to me. I could barely feel the coldness despite the fact that I only wore a short sleeve. That enthusiasm was flooding through out my body back and forth, like I wasn't even able to manipulate it. When the dealer took me to the car, I almost bursted into tears. I swear, that’s the happiest moment I’ve ever had. I’ve been a big fan of car ever since I was young, and this was the one I’ve been wanting for so long. Now, the dream has finally come true.

Novel

I’ve been reading a novel called Devil at my Heels for a while. It was a very encouraging and inspiring story. The main character was Louis Zamperini. He has shown his endowment on track and field ever since he was in junior high school. Later on, he joined school team and broke the state record. As a prominent athlete, he was drafted to be the national athlete and sent to German’s Olympic. Without failing everyone’s expectation, he gained several medals and also broke the Olympic records. Unfortunately, his disaster was about to start right after Olympic game. It was during WWII, and he volunteered to join military. In one of rescue missions, his airplane went malfunction and fell into the ocean. His partner died in the airplane crash, and he, however, survived. It was a miracle he said. Drifting on the ocean for months, he was captured by Japanese army and prisoned. During this period, he had experienced so inhumane tortures and treatments. Nevertheless, his athletic attitude helped him to survive on this hell-like place, as he described. He attempted to escape but failed every time h tried. There was no way to escape from the devils, according to him. They were captured on the island where all the communications were cut off and tons of soldiers monitored them 24/7. He wasn’t rescued until the end WWII when Japan lost the war and was forced to release all the prisoners. 

Right now, he is an influential speaker, sharing his stories around the globe and trying affect people in a positive way by telling them how he went through this unexpected, painful, and inhumane experience.

  Journal

In this journal, I want to share about my personal experience and lesson learn from a triathlon competition in Indiana.

Last weekend, I participated in a triathlon race in Terre Haute, Indiana. It is called Tusk Triathlon. To be honest, I have not been training for a while, but I really like this activity. That was why I still stubbornly registered for the race. (400 meters swimming, 20km bicycle, and 10 km running) Driving took us  about 2 hours to get there from Purdue. I brought own bicycle, which I, frankly speaking, have not ridden it this semester, and of course my triathlon suit. There was many participants, way more than I expected, and I was probably the only person there from Taiwan. I loved the atmosphere there. It was a little bit tense but, at the same time, also relaxing, leaving all the school works behind and focusing on one thing. Also, the scene was pretty good.

At the beginning of the competition, I felt so confident that I could finish in 1.5 hours.(Most people finish in 2 hours or above) However, in the bicycle section, my tire accidentally flatted. I still got about 15 km to go, and I really had no idea what to do. Should I give up or complete this triathlon with my flatted tire? Just in that split second, so many people passed me and cheered for me. Some even gave me their energy supplements. I was amazed and touched by these people. I felt so grateful and appreciated. Their generosity, kindness, and most importantly, sportsmanship inspired me to complete this impossible mission.

Riding a flatted-tire-bicycle under 36 degree celsius(about 96 Fahrenheit), I was exhausted and enervated, but I kept encouraging myself: “You’re just that close. Hang on!” Finally, I spent 2 hours riding and an hour running.(I thought I could finish in 1.5 hours) When I reached the destination, I felt so proud of myself, not because of how fast and strong I could be, but because of the difficulty I overcame.

            I realized in this athletic world, it’s not just about competing and striving for a championship. The most important thing is humanity itself. Are you strong enough to withstand every obstacle that you face?  Are you willing to help others even when you don't have to? These kind of virtues I learned from athletic world helped me become a better person, a person willing to help people and never give up.

Reading

            I want to continue my share about the novel The Things They Carried. I was really touched by the whole story. Honestly, I felt sad after reading that novel. One of his teammates sacrificed his own life to save the whole team in Vietnam, and the other one was gone missing forever. Even one of his best friends committed suicide at his house years after coming back to the US. After reading the story, I truly respect those soldiers. They have so many things that they have to deal with, and we will never figure until they tell us. It was so much burden and pressure on them.