Chief Montalvo '24 Recruiting Profile

Out of the corner of my left eye, I see the struggling arms of another runner, slowly catching up. I turn my eyes to the right and I see the sad truth, I'm losing, though, I think to myself, are winning and losing choices? Yes, they are, there are a lot of choices that ultimately determine the result of a race that lasts less than ten seconds. Though the ultimate factor is whether you choose to lose, or you choose to win. It is simply the choice that one must make. I am a believer in the ideology that the mental game must be strong to have a strong physical game. Of course, I am not discrediting the perks of being physically able, though based on personal experience, I agree, that it certainly helps to mentally be strong.

Unfortunately, I lack the confidence and mental strength that would allow me to take that step to the next level. It's a trait that I have always struggled with, and to this day, I agree, it's still a trait that I need improvement on. However, confidence is a trait that I have been working on, and through these next years in high school, and in the rest of my track and field career, it's a trait that I focus on bettering. In this piece, I want to highlight a key moment in my track career that demonstrated how mentally, I was changed because of track, and just how strong the brain it is, and how the brain can change one's perception of life. 

My first track and field encounter came in third grade. I had recently changed schools after Superstorm Sandy, and for me, it was a tough transition. It was tough because we moved houses, schools, and going into third grade I didn't have many friends. Mentally I faced hardships, I hadn't made many friends and fear played a role in my confidence. I can't explain the emotions I had during this time, but if it helps, imagine a train, and on each car, a problem is arising. On one car everyone is fighting for the last piece of food, in another, someone dropped everything out of their window, yet at the same time the train can't stop for all of the little problems it's having, the show must go on.

A lot changed towards the end of the year as Spring arrived, and track "tryouts," began. For the first time, I was happy, I was excited because I felt I may have had a competitive edge. It could be the one area that I proved to everyone, something, it was a way to prove myself that there was something that they could like about me.

I remember winning all of the races and the beautiful feeling of people coming over to me, congratulating me, and letting me know that I was cool, this was reassuring, but only for a moment, it wasn't what I wanted. What I wanted was to prove to myself, to prove that I was strong and that mentally I believed I could win.

That year we went on to win the city-wide championship, and it was huge to me because not only did I gain the confidence I wanted, I gained friendships, and I gained a close bond with my coach, Jon. Jon would eventually become one of my closest coaches, who I thank for believing in me and introducing me into a sport that I truly love.

Though without track, I wouldn't have gained the little confidence that I needed, the relationships that I wanted, and mental stability that I believed in myself, and that I could do anything I set my mind to. The goal that I further set for myself in the future is to mentally have the determination to believe in myself, and that when I look at the pit, the bar, or the finish line, I believe, I'm going to be the best.