essay on cross country

Which program are you applying to?

• While the World Sleeps

Get Accepted! Speak with an admissions expert today!

• Sample Essays

When I wake up to the ear-splitting sound of my alarm clock, and blindly search for the snooze button, a sudden thought dawns: "What am I doing?"

The time is 5:30 AM; all is dark and hushed. My weary body feels completely drained of energy. While straining to open my eyes, still warm and snug in my comfortable bed, I am overcome with a feeling of lethargy. "Perhaps I should call in sick." Despite all my musing, and my bed's magnetic pull, I still manage to rise each morning at this ungodly hour to join the cross-country running team in rigorous training.

Cross-country running, a sport that requires the fusing of body and mind, strives to maximize your physical ability by testing your mental tenacity. Everyday represents a new struggle to beat yesterday's maximum output, an issue of mind over matter. I have known the agony of this conflict since I joined the newly established cross-country team. As convincing as my morning doubts are, I do not heed them. Through pains and sprains and through adverse weather and unfavorable conditions, I run because I made up my mind three years ago to succeed.

With amenities such as cars and buses, I have no pragmatic reason to use my feet, especially if I lack a destination. I do not run to the gym to acquire a stylish figure, for my slender frame does not require it. And this grueling run differs from a relaxing jog to a coffee shop. I am pushing myself constantly to run faster and farther, for my team as well as for personal glory. Somehow with tireless effort and unflagging commitment, I run through the sleeping streets of my neighborhood with the awareness that I am steadily reaching my goal-maintaining the discipline that cross-country demands. In my mind I see a victory line that symbolizes the results of perseverance and hard work. This line makes me realize that ambition and tenacity do not go in vain. And it constantly reminds me that all those mornings in which I struggled to leave my cozy cocoon have allowed me to fly.

While the world slept, I, Jane Smith, was awake and working hard to attain my goal. I feel more confident now, that on the road of life, when others may be walking, I will be running. I will run through ankle injuries and through fatigue. I will endure the inevitable hills and valleys. I will endure, and I will achieve.

Other Sample Essays

Home — Application Essay — Business School — Cross Country Race: a Transforming Experience

Cross Country Race: a Transforming Experience

• University: University of California, Davis

About this sample

Words: 512 |

Published: Jul 18, 2018

Words: 512 | Pages: 1 | 3 min read

The proudest personal experience of my life was being elected captain of the Carlsbad cross country team. I learned to become a leader by example and to inspire my teammates so that we could achieve our personal and collective best.

Say no to plagiarism.

Get a tailor-made essay on

'Cross Country Race: a Transforming Experience'

It seems like only yesterday that I ran my first cross country race. I had thought that making the varsity team would prove easy. It was only after the varsity runners took off that reality hit me. As each Carlsbad runner passed me, pain and sweat on every face, I realized the hard work and the many trials each had endured. Three years later, the very varsity team I admired I now led. It was a new band of brothers. I felt pride, honor and confidence surging through my veins. Carrying the responsibility of leading my teammates, I now carried the torch that had been passed down by each captain to the next. This was my team to lead.

The Carlsbad High School’s cross country team has been recognized repeatedly for its exceptional ability to stand alone as accomplished scholar athletes. The duty of the team captain is to represent such uniqueness inside and outside the classroom. The captain must exceed all other teammate’s efforts to serve as the rightful leader. If that meant losing sleep to get an extra hour of studying done for a test or even volunteering to run an extra interval, it was my duty as captain to do so.

The title "captain" also came with difficulties. We had a new coach. And we had lost some of the best runners Carlsbad High School had seen in years. There was no easy path from which to choose. With the exception of newly appointed runners, the team paid considerably for this significant change. The cohesion and inspiration, on which the team ran, disappeared. There was a great need for someone to set an example. I gladly filled those shoes.

Through hard work and much effort, the team worked together to regain its old confidence which had led to its prior successes. By setting defined goals and benchmarks for achieving them, we gained back our dignity. By believing in myself and in the teaching of past captains, I set an example for the team to follow.

I am grateful for the life changing experience of being an elected leader faced with challenging and leading others to achieve greater heights than they imagined themselves capable. This experience has had a great impact upon me. My personal life, as well as my character, has improved greatly. Through this valuable experience, a clearer concept of my identity was revealed; and, the belief in my potential grew tremendously.

Keep in mind: This is only a sample.

Get a custom paper now from our expert writers.

To sum up the essay, cross country has unearthed my competitive side and reinforced my dedication to always achieving my best. I have become a hard worker at heart. And now nothing can sway me from what my mind has set itself to accomplish. Armed with these important life-lessons, I feel confident that I am ready for the challenges ahead: college, my career, and becoming an inspirational leader in my community.

Cite this Essay

To export a reference to this article please select a referencing style below:

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr Jacklynne

Verified writer

• Expert in: Business School

+ 122 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

1 pages / 618 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Are you interested in getting a customized paper?

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Business School

In a drab little apartment- streaked gray by pollution- nestled in the dusty streets of Bogota, Colombia, my mother once asked me at the age of three years old what I wanted to be when I grew up. Surrounded by a patriarchal and [...]

Tightening my grip on the thin paintbrush, I squinted my eyes as I carefully traced the flawless face. My hand shook and the paint bled outside of the brow. In frustration, I set down the canvas to inspect my work. The painting [...]

Confident, invested, and aware, I throw my shoulders back and walk to center stage. I breathe deeply and smile menacingly as I channel my character. This has happened before, over fifty times and within twenty-four different [...]

Before signing up for Computer Science, I had never seen what a code looked like. But suddenly, I found myself fluent in the language of Python. While the other students stewed n frustration, for me, everything had clicked. [...]

The University of Central Florida has always been my dream school. It has an impressive reputation and an outstanding curriculum that fits perfectly with my career goals. I have always been drawn to this institution because of [...]

I was born the second child in a family of four, with one older brother, and for all of my life I have been either the shortest or one of the shortest kids in my class. Thus, it naturally follows that I have been picked on and [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free