Jung Su’s Views: Bouncing Back From Hardship

This article is from Tiger Newspaper’s September 2015 issue

By Jung Su Park

Sports Editor

The most important aspect of going through a disheartening experience is gaining valuable lessons that enable the use of the challenge as a stepping stone to reach something greater.

Victorious with a dominating score of 21-3 in the Rio Hondo League season finale against La Cañada in November of last year, the varsity football team earned the third and final spot in the RHL standings, seizing a CIF playoff berth for the first time in 11 years. After controlling the pivotal moments of the game, the Tigers celebrated their notable accomplishment that no other South Pas football team has achieved since 2003.

However, allegations that the Spartans’ practices were filmed revoked the opportunity. The celebratory Tigers returned to their home field only to find out about the unfortunate news. They were devastated, as their hard work all season long seemed to go down the drain. Nonetheless, the varsity squad has worked diligently to return even stronger instead of letting disappointment negatively impact their performance in the current season. The Tigers have valued the power of resilience since then, solidifying their willingness to do whatever it takes to win and make the South Pas community proud.

Such signs of endurance within the team are evident. Under the new coach C.B. Richards, players have been stepping onto the field in Monday and Wednesday mornings from 5:45 am to 7:00 am. These special commitments do not exempt daily after-school practices from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm. The team’s strong-willed efforts have been paying off so far as the energized group of Tigers firmly stands on a 3-0 record.

This story of how the football team turned the tides around is incredibly inspiring. The Tigers’ reactions, unwavered by the blemishes from the previous season, denote their new sense of motivation to achieve a more successful season and deeper playoff campaign, as well as provide profound insight to the world both in and out of athletics. Endeavors contain possible routes to failures, but those threats should not bother us as Tigers. We are more than capable of transforming any resulting setbacks into supplements that boost us to analyze different perspectives and approaches for a chance at redemption.