A Time That I Felt Proud Of Myself

It was four weeks before my graduation, the day that my swimming test was appointed. I arrived at BMS Pool feeling really nervous; my heart picked up speed and I could feel my palms cold and sweaty. My aunt Jannel accompanied me because I could not imagine going there by myself. When we walked in, I saw no one was in the front desk, but across from the desk I could see the swimming pool, and my ears were greeted by splashes and squeals from a bunch of little kids taking a swimming lesson. They seemed so excited like they just received presents from Santa. After a few minutes, the kids’ swimming instructor started to notice me and my aunt, so she came towards us; she introduced herself and then asked if I had an appointment. I told her that I had an appointment with Ms. Jane. She seemed clueless but sent me to change into my bathing suit while waiting for Ms. Jane to arrive. I did what she said; my aunt and I went to the locker room, and I could still feel my body was so tense. I had to calm myself, so I began to chant in my head, “You can do it! You need do it for yourself and for your diploma!”
When I was done changing into my bathing suit, I walked by the side of the pool. I stared at the blue water at first and felt like a fool who did not know what do. I was debating in my head if I should practice first a little bit or wait for my instructor, but eventually I got into the pool and treaded water, which was my weakest skill. I attempted to do it for one minute but after few seconds I could not keep kicking my legs, so I went to hold on the side of the pool; imagining myself with nothing to hold on to while taking my feet to the bottom really scared me to death.
After an hour of trying and waiting, I began feel more anxious and impatient because Ms. Jane was still not there. I felt like giving up, but I had to remind myself that I did not want to do this test at another time; I wanted to get over this fear and not to worry about it anymore. Then, I saw Ms. Siouxha coming in my direction, and then she told me that she received a message that Ms. Jane was not going to make it tonight. However, she could substitute for my swimming test.
When Ms. Siouxha finished teaching the kids’ swimming lessons, she came towards me and asked if I was ready for my swimming test; I kept my face calm and said “yes,” even though deep inside I was shaking. Then she instructed what I had to do in my test; so the first thing was the freestyle stroke which was also the easiest one, in my opinion. I started by pushing off the wall with my legs while facing forward. At first, I was worried when I swam across the pool back and forth, but in the end, Ms. Siouxha told me I did a great job doing it. Then, the second thing that I had to do was the backstroke; I began to think negatively like what if I might bump my head to the wall? What if I could not swim straight while doing it? There were so many what ifs in my mind, but I pushed them away and took a deep breath. I floated on my back, relaxed my head, and then started to kick my legs backward and forward. I moved alternately both left and right arms. Just like what I did in the freestyle stroke, I swam back and forth across the length of the pool. One thing that only bothered me was I got short of breath easily and felt like I was drowning when I was not inhaling that much.
Ms. Siouxha told me that the last thing I had to do in my test was one minute treading water, which was my worst nightmare. Panic started to rise up in my chest, but I kept repeating in my head that I had to get over this. I started kicking with my legs and I moved both my arms forward and backward horizontally. I had a hard time though keeping my head above, and it felt like the water made it hard for me to move also. I only had twenty seconds, but I started to feel tired and was about to sink in, so I swam toward the side of the pool. I wanted to cry in frustration because I felt like a failure. Ms. Siouxha told me to take my time and I did not have to rush because I only had one last chance to do it. I took a deep breath before my last attempt. When she said “go,” I started again, but then I could feel my arms and legs really ache and I was having difficulty breathing. I was really about to give up, but then I remembered that I had to get over this or else I was not going to get my diploma. It was my last chance, so I kept repeating in my head, “You can do it! It is now or never; just ignore the pain!” I tried to calm myself and concentrate on my breathing.
I thought positive things until I didn’t know my one-minute was over. I could not believe it at first that I really did it, but Ms. Siouxha congratulated me and made me write my name on a piece of paper that she would send to my principal. My aunt Jannel congratulated me as well, then I began to call my friends and my parents, but one thing that I would never forget was what my mom told me on the phone, “I’m so proud of you! I could not believe that you finally overcame your fear and accomplished all your graduation requirements. Keep this lesson with you: do not let any fear stop you from getting further in your life and achieving your goal. And even if you did not pass your swimming test… always remember, I would still be proud of you.”