My Story: Victory Down Under Essay, Research Paper
A VICTORY DOWN UNDER
I never thought I would have to go as far as Australia
to write a story on a fellow Bayonne High School alumnus,
Monica Czeravlo. I was of course always familiar with her
track breaking record all through school, but I never had the
opportunity to talk with her one on one.
Now here I am in beautiful Sydney, waiting patiently
with pen and paper in hand for Monica to finish her interview
with NBC. It’s a delightful day with a temperature of about
85 degrees, and the sun shimmering down brightly. I can almost
feel the same excitement in the air as Monica must have felt
when winning the gold metal.
Nearly an hour and an half after arriving to the
Olympic tent I spot Monica trying to escape a gaggle of anxious
reporters. Eventually I get her attention and she calls me over
to where she is sitting, the infield grass of the track. After all
the congratulations and formalities our interview begins.
She is friendly and open so I enjoy her company
Immediately. She starts off by telling me of her Uncle who was
in the 1976 Olympics running for Poland. “He was my mentor,
whenever I felt my practices were becoming to intense and
wanted to quit he was always there to encourage me to thrive for
success.” Unfortunately, Monica’s Uncle Peter passed away in
1996, but Monica says that despite the pain she felt she
knows her Uncle is smiling down on her today: “I used to fear
the death of a loved one the most, but I realize now that death is
a part of life and that a death in this life might signify a birth in
another.”
Most people don’t realize the nervousness and anxiety that
accompany someone to the Olympics. For Monica this plague
attacked before her big day. “I went out to dinner with my
teammates that evening. It wasn’t until 2 o’clock that morning
when it starting feeling as if the kangaroo steaks I had for
dinner were shill hopping around in my stomach.” Monica
thought that she wouldn’t even be able to compete in, let
win the race the next day. But the key break came when she was
awarded the inside position, which saves the runner some
advantage at the beginning of the race.
What are your plans for the immediate future? “I
Intend to finish my early education degree and become a first
grade teacher. Ever since I was little I have wanted to teach, I
love kids! And that is how I want people to remember me,
someone who is fun, friendly and a mentor. But that doesn’t mea
you will never see her on the track field again. She has every
intention to come back and defend her title in the 2004 Olympics.
“I’ve trained for the Olympics my whole life, and even though
it has been a lot of fun, it has also been hard work: so there is no
way in hell I am letting my title ship away from me so easily!”
As our time together comes to an end I realize I am staring
to see Monica in a different light. Rather then only knowing her
as a celebrity I an getting to know her dreams, thoughts, and
insights to life. So what’s your motto to live by? “ Take life day
by day that’s all you can do.” And if you really think about it
that’s the best advice you can get.