The 24th of November 2007

It's the moments where tears of joy drop from your cheeks; it’s the smiles from your friends, your family and your parents.

It's that all mighty applause at the end of a flight when the plane lands, except this is no ordinary flight or journey, this is my life.

Right from when I was young I had always been a little on the "chubby" side, never first and always last, for years I put up with the constant bullying and humiliation, in moments where the sports class would yell to me from across the field to "hurry up" because everyone was waiting for me. It was in those moments that being different from everyone else hit me most, everything was a competition, nothing was just...fair... not for one moment was I ever equal to anyone else.

I took charge!

In 2006, I decided to take charge and change my ways, gone were the days of being abused and singled out, it was time for me to be known for greater things, to break away from just getting by and being ok. It was full steam ahead from then on. I think during that time I had really broken free of keeping to myself and being scared to try new things, I didn't worry about what people were thinking because if it bothered me then they'd like that, and that wasn't right. Skin like leather my mother would say, tough on the outside, soft on the inside... my biggest inspiration is my mother, her drive to battle her through her illness and take charge of her own life is definitely something I look up too and respected, if she could do it so could I, rise above the situation and run with my new opportunities, I had to want it for me. 

That year I last over 15 kilos and was well on my way to being a healthier and more confident kid, my grades were up and I was feeling good, so good in fact I joined as many of the athletics teams as I possibly could to not only get some much needed exercise but to improve my skills. By the end of the year I had achieved many of my set goals, I brought the trophy home for our division A soccer team and had made so many new friends, life was on the up. 

This is it!

2007 arrived so very fast, as did my growth spurt, I was taller and down to my lowest weight, this year was my last year to take everyone by storm. By this point nothing would stand in my way of achieving “greatness” it was a race to the finish line and for once I was in for a chance. I trained every week, I was now sports captain and student councilor I was a soloist in front of 900 people and soon to be something no one, not even I had ever anticipated of being. 

24th of November 2007

The school sports carnival had arrived, a day I had been waiting for, for a very long time. I was prepared and ready to give it my all and for the first and last time in my schooling life, my parents were there to cheer me on.  The atmosphere on that day was magic, everything seemed to be in slow motion, you could feel the excitement as each event was held. I had managed to be a part of every event that day and somehow managed to come 1^st every time, it was surreal, almost like a dream but better. 

I stood ready for my final race, the boys 100m sprint. I lined up at the starting point, I remember my heart was beating like a drum it was deafening almost, the track became smaller in my sights and the finish line further away, before I knew it I hear the marshal say those scary  words.. On your marks, get set, GO!! At the sound of the gun going off my legs had a mind of their own and took off in hyper drive, my face serious as ever I ran for my life and boy did it pay off, for the first time in my entire life I defied the odds and came first, as I collapsed at the end in a ball of tears my friends and parents run to me in cheer, shocked at what they had just witnessed thinking “did he just do that”. It was an over joyed feeling of happiness and achievement, words could not describe that moment, it was on that day that the school declared me champion boy. It is possible to rise above and beyond, life always has a solution you just have to find it, I know I did.