On June 19th, 2019, my school life at North London Collegiate School Jeju came to an end. It was time to say goodbye to my supportive teachers, unforgettable friends, and the family-like community that first welcomed me in March 2017. More importantly, it was time to put a period on my sporting career at this school. Although it was only two years of my life span, I've met extraordinary athletes and coaches that have shown me what true confidence, true courage, and true leadership is. For the past two years, each and every player that worked with me constantly motivated and added scoops of determination into my mindset that eventually led me to become NLCS's 2019 Athlete of the Year. In this blog post, I would like to share the experiences that had become the building blocks to receiving this accolade and express my fullest gratitude.
Soccer At NLCS Jeju
Throughout the two years, I was lucky enough to experience two whole different platforms of soccer. During the 2017-18 season (NLCS Middle School Squad), as a member of the oldest year group in the team, it was the ideal opportunity to come face-to-face with leadership. During that season, it was more about leading the team rather than playing for your self, which ultimately changed the way I play in the future. As our team consisted of players in all sorts of year groups, there was more pressure as the oldest to direct and communicate with the younger players during matches or training sessions. Nevertheless, during the 2018-2019 season (NLCS High School Varsity Squad), things were completely the opposite. As one of the few freshman players on the squad, I strongly felt like the soccer we played throughout the season was on a whole new level. The pass-and-go movements were much quicker, longer endurance was a necessity, and the overall intensity drastically increased. Still, the pros outweighed the cons as I bonded with juniors and seniors that I have never met before, interpreted the game more professionally, and was fully able to understand the skills and points I needed to improve on.
My favorite memory with the NLCS High School Varsity squad that I will never forget is becoming the KISAC (Korean International Schools Activities Conference) Champions after beating the opponent on penalties in the finals. Before the finale, our team played 6 matches and managed to win all of them, which certainly increased our self-esteem and prepped us for the final stage.
Starting a finale was another experience that I took with me for the future. With a mixed combination of nerves, adrenaline, and anxiety, it felt like I couldn't move as I walked out onto the pitch. After the match, I strongly felt that a finals soccer game can provide you with so much that you will never be able to find in a normal match.
Both teams were unable to score after the final whistle, automatically transitioning the event into a penalty shoot-out. I still recall the moment where we had our arms locked together as the last kicker took the shot, as well as the instant when the ball swirled into the left-hand side. As soon as we saw that white net rattle, we unfastened our arms and sprinted in joy to the goalkeeper who had made two splendid saves. Our team had written a line in school history as the first team to go unbeaten and win the KISAC competition. I was fortunate enough to be part of a team that fought until the very end, a team that had coaching staffs that cared about each player, and a team that tasted the sweet flavor of glory.
Notable Soccer Achievements while at NLCS Jeju:
1. Korean International Schools Activities Conference (KISAC) High School Division 7-side Soccer Tournament (May 2019)
- North London Collegiate School Jeju Runners-Up
2. Korean International Schools Activities Conference (KISAC) High School Division 11-side Soccer Tournament (March 2019)
- North London Collegiate School Jeju Champions
3. The Federation of British International Schools in Asia (FOBISIA) U15 Tournament (November 2017)
- North London Collegiate School Jeju Quarter-Finalists
4. Korean International Schools Activities Conference (KISAC) Middle School Division (March 2018)
- North London collegiate School Jeju Quarter-Finalists
- Received Player of the Team Accolade in Tournament
Running / Track At NLCS Jeju
NLCS Jeju was the imperative and ideal platform for me as a runner to exhibit my passion and obtain the necessary experience to develop into an athlete I aspired to become. The one thing that particularly caught my attention when I stepped on campus was the limitless opportunity with regards to distinctive competitions of all levels, training facilities, and athletic coaches that were willing to assist an individual's sporting goal. Before coming to NLCSJ, I was only able to compete in approximately two school meets seasonally, due to the lack of attention towards the track team. Nonetheless, just last year during the 2018-19 season at NLCSJ, I took part in one inner-school and one regional cross country race, two interscholastic track meets, and multiple friendly races against neighboring schools in Jeju Island. In these competitions, some races were exceptional accomplishments, while others clearly needed improving.
Still, out of all these races, two races have been my all-time favorite. The first memorable episode is when I finished first in the 2019 NLCS Jeju Senior Division Cross Country Race. Although this was a inner-school match, there was this grand sentiment of crossing the finish line after coming 2nd in the same event the previous year. Unlike the year when I finished second, during this year's X country race, I still had substantial amounts of energy and stamina at the latter half of the run. The energy efficiency in my system even multiplied as I turned the final corner and everyone was cheering me on. There was an instantaneous sensation of glory that can't be expressed using words.
Another achievement that has been significant this season was receiving the 2019 Jeju Activities Conference (JAC) Invitational High School Division Athlete of the Meet accolade. After coming first for the 1500M, 800M, 400M, and finishing second in the 4X100M relay race, it was great to see that the pain and arduous effort had paid off to a large extent. To be honest, before race day, I genuinely believed that it would be close to impossible to compete in 4 full events in two hours (all of my events were close together). Yet, like always, assistance and frequent encouragement from my teammates were enough to get me going again.
Notable Running / Track Achievements (2018/19 Season only) while at NLCS:
1. North London Collegiate School Jeju Annual Track & Field Meet (June 2019)
- High School Boys 1500M 1st Place
- *High School Boys 400M 1st Place (New School Record)
- High School Boys 800M 2nd Place
2. Jeju Activities Conference (JAC) Invitational Track & Field Meet (May 2019)
- High School Boys 1500M 1st Place
- High School Boys 800M 1st Place
- High School Boys 400M 1st Place
- High School Boys 4X100M 2nd Place
- 2019 JAC Invitational Athlete of the Meet Accolade
3. North London Collegiate School Jeju Annual Cross Country Race (April 2019)
- High School Boys Division 1st Place
- Qualified for Asia Pacific Invitational 15th Annual Cross-Country Championship held in Guam (Was unable to attend due to school transfer)
4. Jeju Global Education City Running is Caring Marathon (March 2019)
- Senior Boys Division 1st Place
*Original Clip of Record-Breaking 400M Race:
I am the runner in Lane #1 with the Blue Shirt
Swimming At NLCS Jeju
I never had the chance to swim at school before I came to NLCS Jeju as none of my previous schools had a swimming pool facility. Thus, being able to swim at NLCS Jeju was an immense privilege and a phenomenal opportunity for development and improvement. After several trial sessions, conditioning exams, and time evaluation before the winter season, I was placed in the varsity team where I was swimming with juniors and seniors, which was intimidating at first. Yet, just like the soccer team, the overall ambiance during training sessions was motivational, and everyone had the mindset of encouraging and assisting one another. Thinking about it now, I had become close with every swimmer on the varsity team, regardless of gender and year group.
Although I have participated and competed in multiple elite tournaments throughout the past two years, I gained substantial experience and insight from the Sooeagi Nationals Competition back in 2018. It was my first-ever nationals swimming meet in South Korea, and the anxiety I went through was the very reason I was able to grow as not only a swimmer but a proper athlete with a robust mindset. Moments before entering the pool, I nervously looked around the waiting room while stretching my hamstrings and calf muscles. The uncontrollable rush of adrenaline and the sudden gush of tension positioned me onto the verge of maximum mental agony (if that even is a thing). Despite my endless nervousness, for those few minutes, I understood the imperative nature behind controlling yourself and strengthening your mindset. Whether it's taking several deep breaths or jumping up and down, I firmly believe that there's always a distinctive solution to hop over this consternation-barrier for all individuals. For me, repeatedly thinking that the other competitors are undergoing the same uncomforting sentiments, exceptionally helped me in these situations. In spite of the fact that I was able to make my mark in the podium as the third-place swimmer, this occurrence was more than just an event - possibly even a life lesson to a large extent that would become the major catalyst in stressful or complex circumstances.
Notable Swimming Achievements while at NLCS Jeju:
1. 2019 Jeju Island Province Swimming Tournament (April 19th, 2019)
- High School Boys 200M Breaststroke 1st Place
- High School Boys 4 X 100M Freestyle Relay 2nd Place
- High School Boys 4 X 100M Medley Relay 2nd Place
- High School Boys 50M Breaststroke 3rd Place
2. Korean International Schools Activities Conference (KISAC) Swimming Meet (February 2019)
- High School Boys 50M Breastroke 1st Place
- High School Boys 4 X 50M Medley Relay 1st Place
- High School Boys 4 X 50M Freestyle Relay 2nd Place
- High School Boys NLCS Jeju Overall 2nd Place
3. Sooaegi Korean National Swimming Competition (March 2018)
- Middle School Boys 50M Breastroke 3rd Place
4. Korean International Schools Activities Conference (KISAC) Swimming Meet (February 2018)
- Middle School Boys 50M Breastroke 1st Place
- Middle School Boys 100M Breastroke 1st Place
- Middle School Boys 4 X 50M Medley Relay 1st Place
- Middle School Boys 4 X 50M Freestyle Relay 1st Place
- Middle School Boys 50M Freestyle 2nd Place
- Middle School Boys NLCS Jeju Overall Champions
Special Thanks To:
- Cai Roberts: NLCS Jeju Athletic Director, High School Varsity Soccer Assistant Coach
- Dan Hook: High School Varsity Soccer Head Coach
- Coach Kang: High School Varsity Swimming Coach
- Alan Nesbit: High School Cross Country & Track Coach
- Every single teammate / athlete that has competed or played alongside me throughout my two years at NLCS Jeju :)
I firmly believe that this Athlete of the Year Accolade is only the beginning of my sporting career that will soon continue at The Lawrenceville School and beyond. Thank you once again NLCS Jeju for the fantastic two years!!
"You have to set your goals so that you can push yourself harder. Desire is the key to success." - Usain Bolt, Retired Jamaican Sprinter
*This post didn't require any type of citation/bibliography*
Comments