Guest Post by Akeem Haynes…a sprinter from Alberta, Canada currently at Barton County Community College in the United States. Follow him on twitter @FranchiseHaynes.
Everybody wants to be great at something; nobody wants to be “that person” who never achieved a thing. In that same breath though, the ones that want to be great don’t always want to work for it. Life is not always fair and nothing will ever be given to you especially if it’s something that you think that you deserve.
I’ve seen so many talented kids make one excuse after another and sure enough they went down the wrong path in life. People always ask me why I’m so serious all the time, but anybody who really knows me knows that I joke around 24/7. I just know when it is time to be serious. Track is not a game for me, I wasn’t blessed with brains to go out and get a 4.0 gpa every year, I wasn’t blessed with money, what I lack in those areas I make up for it in heart.
All my life I been the underdog, wasn’t supposed to be anything , but I told myself why settle for little when I already have a little? Why not work hard and take what I don’t have? I’ve had tremendous help along the way, without the people that were really there I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’m serious because this is who I am. And what I am is not a failure. No one will ever be able to look me in my face and call me a loser, and be able to walk away. I refuse to have that word associated with me.
Ups, Downs and Staying Positive
Emotions are like a game of dice, one minute you’re rolling all seven’s winning the jackpot the next you’re hitting snake eyes and you end up right back to where you started. I feel like in life you need to have a killer mentality to be able to strike at any moment. This means taking advantage of your opportunities when you have the chance.
I remember playing in a football game that some scouts came to watch me and for some reason I was mentally out of it just a brutal first half. We were down 21-0, I apologized to my teammates because I didn’t feel like was giving it my all they looked to me to lead them and I wasn’t doing that. I sat down on the bench and my coach came over and said two words that I’ll never forget and made all the difference. “Just relax” is what he told me. I was so worried about not making it out of the “hood” that I forgot to take care of business on the field.
We ended up winning that game 41-21 but I learnt that even in stressful situations take a second to think and breathe and always remember to have fun. If you’re not having fun why even do what you do. One thing we must all know is that life is not fair. As harsh as it sounds it’s the truth. There has been so many countless times where I wanted to give up and just say forget everything and go back to a life I know would get me nowhere but trouble. My mom and God kept me going when I had nothing at all. I always told myself that if I just endure a little longer a breakthrough will happen. I mean bad luck can’t happen forever right?
People always try to hide their emotions and I am definitely one of them and I don’t do it on purpose it’s just how I was brought up. I saw so much and been through more than I should at such young age I just keep everything in. I’m doing my best to change that. Honestly sometimes if you cry it may be just what you need, everybody hurts sometimes and every heart needs relief. Pain is something we are meant to endure it builds character and makes us stronger mentally.
Thanking The People That Helped Me.
I just would like to take this time to thank everybody that helped me out in my life. There has been so many people that took time out of their lives to bring me in theirs and I am forever grateful. Sometimes I tear up because I don’t want to let any of them down even when I do my best I always feel like it could be better. I’ll never forget the things anyone has ever done for me. I always told my friends growing up that “when I eat, we all gon eat” I plan on taking care of everybody just a matter of time.
(original image by ieatem0kids)
