“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift.”
Choose one of these quotes and write what the quote means to you. Type your essay on a
separate sheet of paper and attach it to this application. (The awarded applicant will need to
forward their essay via a word document to the committee.)
“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the Gift.” This quote from Steve Prefontaine speaks to me about the hard work and dedication necessary to succeed and put your talents to good use. Even when people are naturally gifted, their ability to work hard is a major determinant in their future success. When we compete in track and field, which is my main sport, I’ve learned that nothing but hard work will get you the results you want. In sophomore year, I made it to state in javelin and managed to place fourth. With this small success, I realized that if I wanted to do better, I would need to put a lot more effort in. As Coquille doesn’t have a dedicated javelin coach, I found a coach who was willing to give lessons at Gresham, near Portland. For us, this is a four-hour drive one way, but we decided that it was worth it. We spent several Saturdays mostly in transit, going to the lessons, and then coming home and practicing during the week. We had to relearn the form from scratch and fix several obvious errors that were blocking me from succeeding. I also began weightlifting in earnest, visiting the gym three times a week consistently. The winter passed, and track season finally approached. But even then, with all the work I’d put in, my throws weren’t improving. We decided to trust the process and to continue, and finally, two meets before districts, I was able to throw a PR, beating an anomaly throw that I’d made the previous year. Not only were my throws better than before, they were also consistent, something I’d struggled with the year before. At the state track meet, I threw two more personal records in quick succession, securing me the javelin state title. But as thrilling as that day was, it would never have been possible without the hours and weeks and months of work that I’d put in. If I hadn’t given it my all and consistently done drills, weightlifted, and consulted my coach on how to get better, I never could have made it that far. That’s why, when I read that quote, it reminds me that no matter how talented or untalented you may begin, nothing but hard work will bring out the results that you have the potential for.