Something that helps me get through life is badminton. Badminton is my stress reliever because I can go all out and forget about all my problems. I am on my school’s badminton team and love every minute of it. I have made many friends, learned a lot, and physically strengthened. Honestly, I feel that badminton, to me, is an addiction because of how fun and exhilarating it is. Within the team, I have peers who are at my level and I consider many friends my rivals. In doing so, it pushes me to become better and that’s how I improve my game. 

I decided to have my Flat Stanley near my Badminton gear for a couple of reasons. To start off, it created a sense of belonging for me. In Elementary and Middle School, I tried many sports but couldn’t find anything that I liked. Once I came to high school, I heard about the team and instantly loved practice and the members. Another reason I chose this was because Badminton made me stronger. I can run sub 7-minute miles where before I could barely run a 9-minute mile, I have new personal records for various exercises, and I have increased agility. When I see myself improving, I like to become ambitious and try new skills which I learn online from watching pro players play. Then, I actually try them in a game or during practice and sometimes, they work!

Playing Badminton has also helped me believe more in myself. Last year after the season, I was named JV MVP for our team. This helped me feel motivated to continue growing as a person and to continue being a player on the team. Badminton has definitely changed my life and I encourage everyone to try it at some point.