Playing representative rugby has allowed me to share my enthusiasm for the sport with others who share the same passion as me. I was encouraged to try out for the Fraser Valley team and subsequently the BC U16 coaches selected me to play for BC. It was a unique experience playing with your opponents instead of against them. During the school season, I only saw them as competition, as obstacles that stood in the way of victory. However, as our team played together, I took the initiative to break the lines separating the team. Soon, we no longer segregated our school or our region, we opened our minds. Since then, competitors have become teammates and rivals have become companions, united by a sport we all love. Over the weeks, we worked together and the pack quickly developed into a harmonious unit; we put aside every difference and every grudge, we became the emblem of a team and we won the Nationals. I believe we can all apply the same philosophy in any aspect of our lives. It's not an easy road; you don't learn from success, you don't learn from awards and recognition. You learn from mistakes, you learn from failures. It's a game where having all the skills in the world won't get you anywhere without yours