努力就能成功

谢雪梅

你是怎么學会游泳的？过程中是如鱼得水，还是像作者一样，戏剧性十足……

When I was three， my mom decided it was time for me to start swimming. With eagerness， I walked to the pools edge and， while my moms back was turned， I jumped right in. Not surprisingly， I sank like a rock. I still remember how I struggled to try to get back to the surface.  Luckily， the lifeguard was able to grab me. For a long time， that experience scared me. But after practicing hard， and often， I would still be affected by my fear of drowning.

When I arrived at Penn State as a college freshman， I started to drown and that old fear was staring at me in the face. Between a heavy course load， extracurricular activities， making new friendships， and touches of homesickness， things did not go well. I needed a change. I forced myself to clear my mind. I began to understand how to excel in college. It wasnt easy， but I made a strict system for myself， like review sessions， study groups and repetitive individual practice. It worked. I retook Chemical and passed. I also continued to be active in the Student Red Cross Club， which continues to serve as both an extracurricular activity and a source of friends. But I wouldnt say I had learned to swim. But I would say that I learned how to float. But now I know I dont need a lifeguard and that I can save myself just fine.

With each new course， I will become a stronger swimmer. My mom is right; swimming is a skill everyone should learn. I believe swimming and working hard can make me successful.

How did the author overcome his fear in college？