A time I overcame great obstacles was when I joined the cross country team during my sophomore year of high school. I am a 165-pound, 5'10" girl with no previous distance running experience. On top of that, I have asthma. Running long distances had never crossed my mind, let alone taking up a sport that involves endurance, perseverance, and speed. So when my basketball coach, who also happened to be the cross-country coach, told me the team might be able to use me as a team member, I was in a state of disbelief. I was far from the quickest runner, and certainly not the classic distance runner type. She was serious, however. She had seen something in me during summer basketball workouts and encouraged me to give it a try. She offered me the chance to train for a few weeks and decide afterward if I wanted to stay for the season. She also mentioned it would be great conditioning for basketball, which made it a bit more appealing. While my first instinct was doubt and hesitation, in the back of my mind, I knew this might be God putting a new obstacle in my life. After talking it over with my parents, who were hesitant due to my already-packed schedule as an FFA officer and varsity athlete in basketball, volleyball, powerlifting, and track, I decided to go for it. Those first few weeks were such a struggle. I was always the last runner on the team, every practice was a hill that I was barely able to climb, days when I cried my way home in frustration and in pain, my legs aching, my lungs burning, and my mind constantly thinking of quitting. But a few things kept me going and they were my coach’s encouragement, my teammates’ support, and my faith. I felt like God was pushing me to grow, even if I never won a race. So I showed up, day after day, determined to give it my all. I told myself I would never in a thousand years return to the next season. But everything changed when I met a group of freshmen who had just joined the team. They were nervous, and seemed like they needed someone to guide them. I realized that even though I still wasn’t the fastest, I had to help them with my experience, resilience, and encouragement. I stepped into a leadership role, helping them with warm-ups, cheering them on during workouts, and reminding them they belonged. By the end of my junior year, I wasn’t the slowest anymore and surprisingly, I became a regional qualifier. That moment didn’t just become an athletic achievement for me; it showed me how far I had come. I had turned pain into purpose and doubt into confidence. Cross country taught me that leadership isn’t about being the best, it's about showing up, lifting others up, and never giving up, even when it feels like all the odds are against you.