I spent my entire high school career holding a fencing sword in one hand and a mask in the other. A thick fencing jacket with ‘HSU USA’ printed on the back became my second skin. A room filled the smell of sweat and air freshener became my second home. I’m not one of the top fencers, nor do I have the highest rating, but my passion for the sport cannot be defined by a mere letter, rankings, or scoresheets. It is odd to think back to my life before I started it. Four years ago, I was a socially awkward, borderline obese eighth grader who swore against sports after horrifying experiences in middle school P.E. class. It never really made sense that I would pick fencing out of all the possible extracurriculars. I had no previous knowledge, nor did I have a sizable group of friends that fenced. However, something about the sport drew me in. …show more content…
Even then, I found it difficult to approach anyone. Exercise was unfamiliar to me which made me uncomfortable by my intimidatingly skilled peers. In fact, I loathed the Tuesdays and Thursdays that practice took place on. My attendance decreased to the point I was just wasting away the hefty one grand tuition. I hid in the back corner, hoping no one would ever see my sloppy movements. I never figured four years later I would be standing on the medal podium. My first tournament opened my eyes to the sophisticated grace that came with the sport. What seems like two people swinging swords around actually translates into hours of dedication put into improving blade work, footwork, and a developing your own style. My freshman year, a few upperclassmen in my school fencing team stood out to me as they competed in finals. As the captain fought his way to first place, I felt a sense of pride as well as a yearning to be in his place. I stepped out of my shell, expanding my horizons as I opened up to my peers for tips on