David Adarkwah '17 Recruiting Profile

When I think about my life in the future, and what I want to do and become, I’m surprised how frequently it changes. As I grow older, I realize how much I have actually changed. It changes every day, every month, every year, and every moment I’m still alive. But no matter how sudden it seemed, I know my life drastically changed in a single, life defining moment. And that was the biggest failure of my life. Failure is basically lack of success. And I believe failure is beneficial and everyone needs some failure in their lives. Without failure people become unmotivated. My biggest failure, which also happens to be the event most impactful on my life, was being rejected. 

Rejection might not sound like much. After all, life is about going after things and chasing dreams, and when we do, rejection is always a possibility. But this wasn't any ordinary school sports team or club, but the Ghana Olympic Swimming Team. This was not an ordinary rejection, but an Olympian level of rejection. 

I was taught how to swim around the age of just 2 years, along with my older siblings and another family at a sports club. Let’s call them the ‘J’s’. Mr. J was passionate about swimming, so he decided he wanted us to get better after we learnt the basics. We started training regularly together, and after a year, we had significantly improved, shocking visitors who saw us swim so well at such young ages. Other parents admired us and decided that they wanted their children to also learn how to swim. Eventually, more and more people joined our sessions, and a team was formed. We were the swimming prodigies. Year after year, we participated in competitions against schools, other clubs, and even national competitions. Proven to be the best swimmers in the country just after 2 years, we represented the country in many international competitions. We participated in all the major competitions and events, such as the FINA World Championships. So from that little group of two families, originated the Ghana Swimming Team, with Mr. J as head.

With the Rio 2016 Olympic Games coming up, I started training rigorously. Day after day, week after week, dreaming of competing. But to my disappointment, I didn't make the qualifying time. Sadly, no one in Mr. J’s team made it. The selection for the representative was on a universality basis, which meant only the best in the country could participate. I was third in line. 

I was beyond disappointed, my dreams were shattered. I became quiet and quite unstable. I wanted to give up on everything. Stop trying. Yet I could not, not with the community of the J’s. Not with the support of those who revered me for being the third best swimmer in the country. Being within the grasp of the Olympics and losing is heart wrenching, but if asked, I would definitely do it again.  

Failure is part of life. People who tend to avoid rejection, due to fear, hold back from going after what they want. Feeling is rejected is the opposite of feeling accepted. But being rejected doesn't necessarily mean you are less valuable. It just means at that particular point in time, and in that situation, things didn't go your way.  My failure, has made me more capable of compassion, kindness, and great achievement; as well as given me a deeper understanding of life, viewing things from different perspectives. But most importantly, I treasure the knowledge and experience gained from it.