Reflections of a Rower
My name is Evangeline, but everybody calls me Eve. I’m the oldest of 5, homeschool, and I don’t really get out of the house much. Which is fine, I’m an indoor person and an introvert. Suits me very well. Of course (nervous laugh), my siblings' ages are 11, 8, 6, and 4. (I’m 13) The last three are tiny monsters who wrestle like the devil. They eat everything Mom buys in 1–3 days. They bounce around the house and scream. They call everyone in the house names. (sigh) You get the point. So, occasionally, I need to get out of the house once in a while.
I love swimming. I love the water. I love going to Seaside and the Oregon Beach. I was always the first to run into the lake or ocean whenever we arrived. (Not anymore, I chickened out, the ocean is waay too cold.) One time, my family and I went to a lake, and another family we just met let us try out their paddleboard. I immediately loved it. I could go out as far as I wanted (I didn’t go too far, I’m not that dumb) without tiring. I could get away from other people for a little while, sit and think. It’s just so dang peaceful to get away from other people in an environment that you love.
When I graduated 5th Grade, I left the private school I’ve been attending for 7 years to join a Classical Conversations homeschool group. I stayed at home for the majority of the week, except for Wednesdays. Oh, the nerves! I was the new kid for the first time in my life. I’m a quiet introvert who would rather stand in the corner and be invisible than attempt to make social interaction. Anyways, 7th Grade was easier for me thanks to the teachers and classmates. I love them. One of my classmates happened to be part of a crew team and asked me if I wanted to join. I didn’t know what crew was, or that rowing was a sport. I did soccer for a few years, and I liked it until the last year I did it because everybody I knew abandoned me, and the new girls had a burning, unquenchable thirst for victory that made me uncomfortable. So I left.
When I first joined the NCC team, I was quiet and shy. It was a very similar approach to my homeschool group. I made small talk with my classmate and her friend (who, coincidentally, was on my soccer team but then left), and I made friends with some other new kids on the crew team. I love all the things about rowing apart from the actual rowing itself. I love the teammates, the coaches, the views (you can see mountains in the distance from the boathouse), and the calming sensation you get when you sit on the water on a sunny afternoon. In the moment, at the race, it’s uncomfortable. But the feeling you get when you pull in the dock, when you finish the race, it’s incredible.
Yes, I know I’m going to be cold, wet, and exercising my legs and arms to the bone. (You probably think I’m exaggerating, but I can’t even do a single pull-up. This will be a challenge for me) But a little water never hurt anybody. I think rowing and meeting new people are good enough rewards for being a bit cold and tired. (I won’t complain, don’t worry) If it’s not, at least I experienced it.
If I were to encourage a young person (in other words, my age) to try out rowing, I would just say it’s gonna be scary, it’s gonna be painful, you’re gonna get rained on. The reward is that it builds character, and you were brave enough to try something new and to meet new people.
