The Spirit of Sportsmanship in My Heart - Jerry Zhao

Staff Writer Jerry Zhao is a freshman at the Stony Brook School in New York. He is originally from Beijing, China and currently plays soccer and tennis.

I have always cherished an old photograph. It's a picture of me in 6th grade, fully geared up in hockey training attire, fiercely competing on the ice rink. Whenever I encounter difficulties or feel like giving up, I always return to this photo of 11-year-old me. It energizes me, reviving my spirit as I continue to face challenges.

I participated in almost all the school's sports teams during elementary school, from swimming to soccer. After a conversation with the hockey coach, Mr. Michael, I was inspired to join the hockey team, even though I had just learned to skate. I discussed the idea of playing hockey with my mom, who allowed me to play on two conditions: 1) if I chose hockey, I had to give up another sport, as there wouldn't be enough time for studies, and 2) if I chose hockey, I had to commit to training for more than three years without quitting. After some thought, I left the swimming team and joined hockey.

A month into official hockey training, I started to regret it. It wasn't as straightforward or as fun as I had imagined. The repetitive passing and receiving drills and the physically demanding workouts left me exhausted after each session. After a year of intense, strenuous training, I felt more dejected than accomplished. Despite my efforts, I didn't make it into the main lineup. I spent every game on the bench, feeling insignificant and heartbroken. That's when I learned the meaning of the saying, "Nothing comes easy in sports."

Mr. Michael seemed to notice my plight and talked to me, saying, "Just focus on your effort and leave the rest to 'opportunity.'" That opportunity finally came at the end of a league game. I was put in as a substitute and made a perfect assist and goal, clinching the victory for the team. I was thrilled! That experience taught me that victory and success are earned through hard work.

After three years with the hockey team, fulfilling my promise to my mom, I made the difficult decision to quit. I felt that my efforts in hockey were not proportionate to the outcomes and that I was wasting my time. However, this perception changed during the Christmas Ice Festival. Before Christmas, the school was preparing a large-scale ice dance show, "The Lion King." Mr. Michael recommended me for the role of the young lion because I was a member of the drama club and could skate. Being selected for such a major performance was unexpected and exciting. The show was a huge success, and the applause made me realize that all my past efforts and hardships in learning to play hockey were worthwhile. I experienced firsthand the saying, "Opportunities come to those who are prepared."

Now, I am a high school student in the U.S., participating in the soccer and robotics teams. Sports have become an essential part of my life, and my understanding of the sports spirit has deepened. It's about fair competition, teamwork, hard work, resilience, and striving for excellence. I admire and practice the sports spirit in each of my actions.