I’ve always been the sort of person who hated being asked to answer questions in class, not because I didn’t know the answer (in fact I’m pretty clever, and usually do have the right answers), but because I didn’t like attention drawn to me. Besides, I don’t have a lot of friends. I get joked about a lot since I’ve always been a fat kid.
I’ve found a way to change all that.
It began when a teacher suggested I try out for the basketball team. At first I thought it was an absolutely crazy idea. Being fat, I just knew that I’d only embarrass myself. But because the teacher — a favorite with me — kept insisting I “go for it,” I decided to give it a try.
When I first started attending the practice sessions, I really didn’t have a good handle on the game of basketball. To be honest, I didn’t even know the rules of the game. Luckily, I wasn’t the only one “new” to the game, so I decided to do my best at each practice session. I was learning, and I was getting better — even if it was little by little.
And then it became more fun. And more inspiring. I practiced and practiced. Pretty soon the competitive part of me was winning over my fat-kid challenge. I began to forget that I was fat. I even discovered that my “size” wasn’t such a disadvantage at all; I could make a basket from right under the net and block at the same time! I never had so much fun!
Gaining self-confidence in playing inspired me to try out other things. I have gone from “hiding” myself to raising my hand. With my new and improved self-confidence comes more praise, some from teachers, and some from teammates and classmates. But these days, they also come from the face in the mirror — which is the person whose comments I value most. Best of all, I’m learning to really believe in myself.
【小题1】Why did the author dislike being called on in class?| A．He hated most subjects. | B．He didn't know the answers. |
| C．He was too shy to speak in class. | D．He was not comfortable with being noticed. |
| A．To make sb feel pleased or interested. | B．To make sb feel surprised. |
| C．To make sb feel shy or ashamed. | D．To invite sb to enter a competition. |
| A．He became sure of himself. | B．He lost a lot of weight. |
| C．He learned to cooperate. | D．He developed a funny personality. |
| A．An overweight Kid’s Basketball Journey | B．The Best Way to Gain Confidence |
| C．The Power of Competitive Sports | D．A Teacher’s Impact on a Student’s Life |
