Stories and Articles

Never Give Up

Contributed by Beth Kiesselbach

If there is one thing I would like to inspire in others, it is the idea of not giving up until the game is over. I learned this message from my mother who told me, "Just do the best you can, that's all you can do."

I remember my first bike race. I was terrified that I would come in last and make a fool of myself in front of my teammates. While I was out on the course and my legs were burning with lactic acid, I realized I was beginning to let my fears control me. I thought of what my mother said, and reminded myself that I was out there participating, and that was something I could be very proud of. The only thing that would disappoint me would be if I gave up in the middle of the race.

Beth is all smiles during the UCLA ITT Warmup Race. Beth participated in the UC Berkeley Cycling Team.

I slowed down and noticed a whole new layer of feelings arise. I knew I could sustain my energy and continue racing to the finish. The original feelings of fear came from starting out too hard and burning out. Now I needed to focus on my own pace, not on what everyone was doing around me.

As the halfway point drew nearer, I started to feel a second wave of energy. I knew I was half way to the finish and had learned how to conquer fear; the possibility of finishing was becoming a reality. I started chanting to myself to continue doing my best.

The finish line was approaching. This was the time to give all I had to each pedal stroke and keep my focus straight ahead. I felt my body slice through the air like never before. Then, as I saw the finish line in front of me, I heard cheering and my heart pounded with joy. I did it. I finished. I did my very best. I had conquered fear and used it to propel me forward.

I didn't know how well I had placed, but I did know that I had fun and was proud of myself. I knew that my fears would never go away, but if I continued to train my body and mind to be confident in the face of fear, I could do quite well. I did not discover until later, when I won conference championships, how valuable this insight was. I learned to trust my inner strength and believe that I can do whatever I set my mind to. Things might not always go as expected, but with practice and the right attitude you can achieve more than you ever thought possible.

Don't forget – in the end, it's just a game! Let yourself be inspired, have fun, and go for it.