Where/When have I demonstrated Teamwork?
The ability to work in teams is one of the most vital social’s skills that can be applied in schools as well as in professional life. Teamwork is not only reflected in a team’s success but also in individual achievement. I have participated in multiple competitions for my previous swimming clubs, Southside Penrhos Wesley (SSPW) and my current swimming club, Riverton Aquanauts (RVA). For me, the goal of a competition is to beat your Personal Best (PB) Swimmers are trying to be their best and bet the racing the clock.
I have demonstrated many uses of teamwork throughout my racing years. When in a team, competitors must understand where their strengths and weaknesses lie, for this will determine our stroke or placement in the team. When working strategically together as a team, we could maximize the effectiveness of everyone in the water so we could achieve a win together. Working in teams also builds confidence and social skills. This also makes sure that everyone is included knowing that we are valued team members.
An achievement in my swimming experience was back in 2018. Southside Penrhos Wesley won Gold Medal in 4 x 50 metre Medley Relay and Bronze Medal for 4 x 50 metre Freestyle Relay for WA State Championship, I was very proud to be a part of this success. Even though we were nervous when facing other strong teams such as UWA, Breakers, and St Hilda, we all did our best and believed in our coaches’s decision, believed in our team’s strengths, and believed in ourselves. It didn’t hit me then, but thinking about it now really struck me, I realised how much teamwork played a part in these victories. Teamwork was certainly the key to the Relay Success that we achieved for SSPW Swimming club.
When have I put ERIC into practice?
Empathy : My teammates or younger swimmers can feel disappointed over not being able to beat their PB (Personal Best), meaning that they were unable to get a quicker time and get a qualify time in order to progress into State Championship level. I was able to comfort them and understand how they would felt as it remind me of where I had come from, the struggles that I have already conquered. It truly is upsetting not being able to reach your goals, but is still important to see the positive side.
Respect: Having respect for my coaches and teammates is very important to acknowledge. Coaches are committed to helping me become the best athlete I can be. Respect and trust between myself and my coaches is essential to the achieving the best possible results in the pool. There is no one else who can understand what I am going through as well as my teammates do because they are the ones who experience the same practices, sets, and day-to-day conditioning activities that I do. There is a unique bond that is forged between swimmers through hard sets.
Integrity: I have shown integrity through my years of attending swimming training at set times and days, I make an effort to show up to every lesson making sure to be there on time. Showing Integrity means to show honesty, what this means to me it that I am only the one that know if I have missed a lesson or if I am not putting 100 percent. Only I can tell when I am under performing.
Courage: Courage is the ability to take positive action in the midst of fear. Every time I approach the diving board, the feeling of anxiousness begins to flood my mind. The fact that “this race puts everything on the line” serves as a constant reminder that the outcome of races can never be guaranteed, that the outcome may not turn out as you hoped for. Even if the worse were to emerge and come true, it can be painful which leads to disappointment, but likely more rewarding than not taking the risk at all.
I recognize that we are stronger and more effective as a team than as individuals. I strongly believe that teamwork increases our chances for success.
“Individually, we are ONE DROP. Together, we are an OCEAN.”
-Ryunosuke Satoro