JANE KWAK
11th grade/FULLERTON UNION HIGH SCHOOL
“Objection!”
The prosecuting attorney’s voice boomed across the room, forcefully cutting off our defense attorney’s question. With no rebuttal to the opponent’s objection, our attorney sat back down into her seat with visible defeat and dejection on her face. Around me, the members of my Mock Trial team and all witnesses and spectators sighed in collective disappointment as they averted their eyes towards the ground. The sight was disheartening, and I began to wonder: Was I really good enough to be their coach?
When I created the mock trial club this August, I had ambitious dreams of giving students an experience of a lifetime: providing students with a competition that imitates real trial proceedings. I knew that the team was relying on me, so I could not let them down. Together, we spent countless nights and long hours preparing the teams for competition, making sure that everyone was confident in their abilities. However, it seemed as if the time preparing for this moment was for nothing, and the team’s morale quickly diminished throughout the trial. The signs were clear: the team had given up.
It seemed as if my coaching did not help, and this burden of self-doubt continued to lurk after the trial had ended. Even though everyone was encouraging one another with words of affirmation, I still felt that I had let the team down because I did not train them properly for the difficulty of the competition. However, when I came home that night, I had received a question from my teammate about their role. When I had responded back with my answer, they ended the conversation with a text thanking me for the effort I had put into the team.
The brief yet meaningful message proffered me with a sense of reassurance. The hard work that I had put into the team was still being recognized. From this experience, I ultimately learned that my efforts should not be determined on just the results, but the impact it creates to my community. Even though my hard work was not shown through the trial that night, everyone still played their roles competently, and they rallied classmates together toward an unforgettable experience – which was what my coaching was ultimately for. Overall, the positive influence that my work has provided for my community is something that I am now proud of, even if it did not yield desired results. Even today, I am proud I was able to rise to the top in an activity that I enjoy.