Run your race.

This is a picture of me running during Queens College Interhouse Sports Heat in 2000. Back in the day, it was very difficult to get into QC, and I had to wait almost a year to get a spot on merit. I was always in the top 3 in my elementary school, so I thought it would be easy to get in, but I didn't realize that QC was a mix of students that were top 3 in their elementary schools and no matter how good you were, someone had to come last. 

I decided that during my time in secondary school, it didn't matter if I was THE best, I would always participate and give MY best. Instead of struggling to be top of the class, I focused on learning life skills that I could take with me on my journey. I participated in every extra-curricular and social activity that I could. I played on the basketball team, and was a full on athlete. Being an athlete in QC was a big test, because the competition was REAL. Notice how in this photo, I'm running hard (I was actually first in this race), but the girls on the field weren't looking.…and that was QC for you: nobody cared what you were doing, until you reached the finish line. But once you got to that line, it didn't matter if you were last, they would scream, cheer, and rush to throw some glucose in your mouth.

You better run your race!

xx

Adaora ‘Lumina’ Mbelu