MasterPIES assignment!

بِسْــــــــــــــــــــــمِ اﷲِارَّحْمَنِ ارَّحِيم

Physical Change

My near death experience would've been at the time when I was 5. You see, I had this thing called Asthma. That was the worst asthma attack that really took the toll on me. It caused me to turn blue like one of those avatar characters (ok, maybe I'm exaggerating). Ever since then, my parents had been very cautious about me, doing any types of sports, especially running, which was my passion. People usually say, the more you tell kids not to do something, that's exactly what they would do. In my case, it's similar but different. It's not deliberately done out of annoyance but out of sheer passion.

I used to do running when I was 10, but changed to long jump when I was 11. I stopped all together and did marching at 12. Going through the operation of removing appendicitis a week before UPSR didn't help either. I was subjected by my parents not to even ride a bike in the period of 2 years, mininum - advised by the doctor (who sewed such an ugly looking stitch...but at least it didn't leak). If there's anything I would feel imcompetent and powerless about, that would be the time when my passion and physical ability are not in sync.

Living my teenage years in a small town called Loughborough - which didn't even exist in the Atlas Map back then - the only things I could broad about the town are Loughborough University and Paula Radcliffe. Who is she? She's Britain's former star athelete and women's world record holder for marathon and cross country. Two things we had in common, aside from being sports lovers, we were asthmatic buddies.

It wasn't easy, breezy and beautiful at the beginning. Running suddenly became hard for me. In my fitness class, everyone was required to do 2, 5 and 7 mile running. We used to count our heart rate and I failed the test miserably. My heart was pounding above average even before running...perhaps because I got nervous from just thinking of doing long distance running? I knew I could get away from it for medical purpose but I loathed telling people that I was asthmatic. I didn't want people to feel sorry for me. Most of the time I refused to succumb to my asthma. I always convinced myself this was all just psychology! I mean, who doesn't get  knackered, short of breath, pale white and feeling like dying while running, right...

After moving out from Garendon High School, I embarked the rest of my higher education years at the nearest college from home called, Burleigh Community College. It was so happened to be a college that specialised in sports. It was all good. In a nutshell, I started to play badminton with the Malaysian community but then decided to get serious with it. I made it to my school team and somehow joined the professional coaching at Loughborough University by England's badminton coach, the great man himself. I had training 4 days a week. The rest of the days, I got involved with netball.

 I attempted my luck for Burleigh's basketball try out and to my surprise, I made the team. Imagine, a short hijabi girl, in bball baggy jersey and shorts, all covered, playing the point guard position. Alhamdulillah. The gym and sports center became my second home. I was always the one to come in late and sweaty for classes, in the middle of winter and summer - with a good excuse, that is. Of course, I didn't always get to play the sports that I wanted. My parents were apprehensive about me joining the girl's rugby team. How could I go for the try out if I failed the try out with mama and ayah. I dismissed the offer and didn't push my luck. I was happy with where I was...

As I approached the final year of being an O level student, my love for sports didn't waver. But slowly, I resigned one by one for the fact that I had to leave for Malaysia. Winning the 2nd runner up place for Youth Games, representing Charnwood district, I was happy that I was part of the team. But the gleaming highlight above all others, was the time when my college acknowledged all of its athelets in a Sport Evening Award ceremony. Alhamdulillah it was beyond my wildest dream to be nominated as The Sport Personality of The Year.

Today, although I'm no longer involved in any sports actively, I anticipate going to the annual midwest game to play soccer for Chi Town Worrriors team, I would love going to Correc with my girls for riadah, and make sure that I do morning walks (on treadmill, counts) as often as I possibly can.

Alhamdulillah. Today, I'm no longer on medication (at least for now...may Allah keep us all in the best of health, amin) and don't carry inhalers around like I used to. I realized that I need to respect my asthma as much as I would, an opponent.

That was the turning point of my physical change. If you were to ask me how, what and why did I choose that path; for me, it was always a simple passion and a lil bit of stubbornness. Still, I may not be the absolute best at what I like doing but passion, goes a long way. A long way as far as developing personal change and paving the road to a healthier life. For an asthmatic who love sports, if you can't be active on the field, be sure to rock the court or your backyard. Create alternatives for yourself.

Lance Amstrong, an American former professional road racing cyclist who won the Tour de France, a record of seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer once said " Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever".

Change is inevitable. Progress is a choice - I didn't choose to suffer from this illness...but passion drove me to progress.