Accomplishments and Pride

            “Look over there!” exclaimed a woman in the crowd. “The girl in the skirt is in the lead!” As she made her announcement, her spouse and another crowd of parents and children looked my way and began clapping. As they cheer, a smiles takes over my face and I realize that I am setting an example.

            It was a Sunday evening, and the Ida Crown Jewish Academy Cross Country Team was competing in the Latin Winter Meet. This was ICJA’s second meet, yet my first. I was nervous when we arrived at the park because we had ten minutes before the race, a crooked tent with a tiny “IDA CROWN” sign on it, and a dead fish in its entrance.  On the contrary, it was comforting having 30 teammates with me preparing for the race. The first race was the Open Race, the one I was competing in, and I was told to go to the starting line.

            Students from all around the Chicagoland area, including CJHS, and ICJA lined up waiting for the horn. As I looked around, I felt uncomfortable because the other runners wore shorts and T-shirts, or spandex running outfits, while we wore long sleeved shirts, jerseys, kippot, and skirts. Fans, parents, coaches, and runners looked me up and down and giggled to each other about my outfit. Although I felt out of place, I held my head up high and took my position. Seconds later, the sound of the horn filled the air and we took off.

            “The girl in the skirt,” I continuously hear from the crowd. I smile and pass more of my rivals. I continue sprinting as the cold rain numbs my hands and covers my face. I see a crowd of Blue ICJA jerseys roaring in the distance, and a finish line waiting for me.

“You can do it, Jackie!” My father yells, as I fly past him. I pick up my speed, pass two boys, and glide through a lane that reads “Girls Finish Line.” A gold metal is placed over my sweaty neck and my coaches run to me in excitement.

            This was the moment in which I felt most accomplished at ICJA, but not because I was the female winner of the Latin Open race. It was because it gave me an opportunity to feel proud to be an Orthodox Jew. It gave me my first spark of ICJA Pride. I showed my adversaries that a person can be a good athlete without looking like one. And we sent a message to everyone at that race about modesty, sportsmanship and pride. At the end of that day it did not matter to me that I had to run in a skirt. I realized that I did not win only because I was fast; I won because I had made a Kiddush Hashem.