I started fencing two years ago. Initially, I felt fencing was like playing with sticks, more about strength than skills. In one of my first few bouts, I had a strong opponent. The match started, and their fast footwork and attacks caught me off guard. Meanwhile, my movements were sluggish and my form was sloppy. I tried to parry, but it seemed like my opponent could predict my moves and counterattack. I quickly lost without even scoring a single hit. I was very frustrated and asked myself: "How are my opponents this strong?” They seemed to have a lot of skills. But this setback has encouraged me to practice harder. After talking to my fencing coach, I realized I could get as strong as my opponent with rigorous practice. I committed myself to training, spending at least ten hours each week on my footwork. I took every opportunity to learn strategies from more experienced fencers. Three months later, I finally had a chance to prove myself with my first tournament.

In this tournament, I was calm and could predict my opponent's moves. I was more confident, and my footwork felt smoother and calculated. I positioned my attacks to hit precisely. In the end, I won the match 15-12. Through the experience, I learned a valuable life lesson: frustration is just a way for me to grow, develop a new skill, and achieve more.